Calvert's Book on the Canadian Title is a look back at the Crockett-Era in Toronto

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

In late 1978 or early 1979, I started noticing in some of the newsstand wrestling magazines that the top stars in the Mid-Atlantic wrestling area were regularly headlining in Toronto. At the same time, the Canadian Heavyweight champion, with his Canadian Heavyweight title belt, started showing up on our weekly Mid-Atlantic television programs and on our local cards.

This was long before the days of the Internet and behind-the-scenes wrestling newsletters, and I had no idea what was going on. One of our weekly TV programs was  called "World Wide Wrestling" and so I just assumed that maybe we now really were worldwide!

It wasn't until well into the 1980s that I learned the our promoter Jim Crockett, Jr. and the promoter in Toronto Frank Tunney had a working relationship.

My first exposure to Toronto wrestling was in 1977 when the tape of an NWA World Title change in Maple Leaf Gardens aired on our local TV shows. "Handsome" Harley Race defeated Terry Funk for the famous "ten pounds of gold." The TV commentators were former NWA president Sam Muchnick and a former NWA champion I later would learn had been a fixture of Toronto wrestling for decades, Whipper Billy Watson.

Two things made Toronto seem special and unique to me right off the bat. First was that elevated walkway, the famous Toronto "ramp", that led to the ring. I had never seen such a thing, and that whole concept intrigued me. Secondly though, and more lasting in my memory over the years, was the iconic call by Toronto ring announcer Norm Kimber announcing the new champion. I actually made an audio cassette recording of that, and the many times I've listened to it over the next years had it burned into my brain. It wasn't just what he said, it was the dramatic way he said it...

"The winner of the match, the time 14 minutes 10 seconds with an Indian deathlock, the new heavyweight champion of the world Harley Race!"  - Norm Kimber
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO (14 sec.)

In my opinion, Kimber was one of the great ring announcers of all time.

I later learned there were many other things that made Toronto unique and special. Toronto was one of those towns that was similar to St. Louis and Houston in that they often booked wrestlers from lots of different territories and promotions to make up their big cards, and although it was an NWA town, all the various world champions from the NWA, WWF, and AWA all defended their titles there. And of course the name of the venue sounded cool to me, too. Maple Leaf Gardens. This sounded akin to Madison Square Garden and gave it a more mythical feel as a teenager at my great remove.

I've recently had the pleasure and good fortune to assist author Andrew Calvert in publishing his new book "The Canadian Heavyweight Title: A Complete History 1978-1984." Andrew publishes the popular Maple Leaf Wrestling history website (MapleLeafWrestling.com.)  His book chronicles Toronto's Canadian Heavyweight title during those years, a time period known to locals as the "Mid-Atlantic era" because of the close relationship with the NWA territory of that name in the United States. Andrew has done a wonderful job in telling the story of the title and all of the champions who held it during those years, many of whom were headlining in the Mid-Atlantic territory as well.

The research and writing in the book is Andrew's; I only did the layout and design, and helped structure the book in a similar fashion to what I've done with a few of my Gateway history books on our championships. We are honored to include it here in the series of books we've published on the Crockett championships. The book is available exclusively on Amazon, with links included in our Mid-Atlantic Gateway Book Store.

Since first discovering way back in the late 1970s that Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat were selling out Toronto cards at the same time they were headlining here, I've always wanted to know more about that special time in Toronto. As a result of helping Andrew lay out his book, I've learned a great deal about this special time, including the fact that the working relationship between Tunney and the Crocketts was much more formal and corporate than I ever knew before. It actually involved Tunney, Crockett, and George Scott, as the three formed a separate company behind the scenes. You'll learn all the details of that in Andrew's book, how it came together, and how it eventually fell apart.

The book includes a detailed history of the Championship from its inception in 1978 until its demise in 1984, as the Toronto office developed a new relationship with the WWF. Plus, a look at all the champions that held the title, the championship tournaments, and all the title changes. The book also includes a brief history of Toronto wrestling in general, a spotlight on Frank Tunney, newspaper clippings, vintage photographs, and more.

And for those interested in the belt itself, the book is lavishly illustrated with detailed photos of the original Canadian title belt, crafted by the famous belt maker Alex Mulko, aka Nikita Mulkovich, as well as details on how you can own a cast replica of the original for your very own.

It was a magic time, during a wonderful period when the Canadian and U.S. titles were defended on the same Toronto cards, alongside the NWA, WWF, and AWA titles. Experience all this rich history in Andrew Calvert's great new book, available now on Amazon.com.

Originally posted October 8, 2019 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

 

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: March 19, 1983

Mid-Atlantic 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: 03/19/83
(taped 03/16/83 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network Direct Link to this show Mid-Atlantic 03/19/83
WWE Network feed.   [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.] 

Match 1
The Great Kabuki (w/Gary Hart) d. Mike Davis
We see Kabuki in the ring. His outfit is over 100 years old, and his sword over 80 years old according to Bob Caudle. His helmet looks like Darth Vader. Of course, wasn’t Vader based on a samurai character? Kabuki spits the mist, and we are on our way. Tommy Young is the referee for the hour. Gary Hart joins Caudle, talking about what a get martial artist Kabuki is. More green mist, straight up in the air. Hart shouts out jiberrish, or some foreign language. Hart denies Kabuki was a mercenary in Vietnam. A savate kick finishes Davis. Hart pulls Kabuki away.

-Int. w/David Crockett: Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Caudle pitches to a taped interview, in front of a blue curtain. Both Steamboat & Youngblood have bandages on their foreheads. Youngblood says they fought in front of 16,000 fans, with just as many turned away. Steamboat talks about how difficult thematch was. Slaughter & Kernodle comes out. Kernodle is all bandaged up. Slaughter says they have a return match. Slaughter hands a paper over to Steamboat, and says they’ll see them in another cage.
Caudle says stay turned for Andre the Giant next.

[Break]

[CLIP] of Andre the Giant
An immediate cut to Andre in a WWF TV match versus Jose Estrada. Vince McMahon & Pat Patterson are the announcers. Easy win for Andre. The match was taped Aug. 4, 1982 in Hamburg, PA and aired 8/07/82 on All-Star Wrestling.

Match 2
One Man Gang (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) d. Ken Timbs
Humperdink is with Caudle. He says Andre is awesome, but no match for Gang. Humperdink also runs down Jimmy Valiant. Gang wins with the big splash.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jos LeDuc
LeDuc says he’s been out for the last five weeks, hospitalized at the hands of Jimmy Valiant. LeDuc is vowing revenge. Meanwhile, Humperdink shows up. LeDuc tells him to get out of there. Humperdink says he’s cost him $800 for missing his shots. LeDuc shoves him away, and tells him to butt out. LeDuc walks away, and Humperdink complains some more.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Paul Jones
Jones is in full prom night periwinkle tuxedo. He says the Brisco Brothers have attacked Dory Funk, Jr. So, Jones found his man a partner. Jake Roberts is coming back. Jones says he’s seen the light. We go to a clip of Roberts vs. Barry Windham from Championship Wrestling from Florida. The match is a time limit draw, but Roberts gets his shots in. Joining Gordon Solie at the announce desk is Terry Allen. Roberts goes to the desk to complain. He then gives Windham a knee lift on the outside, that sends him through the wooden partition separating the ring and the fans.

Match 3
Non-Title: Dory Funk, Jr. [Mid-Atlantic Champion] d. Masa Fuchi
Both Caudle and Jones note that Barry Windham is (was) Blackjack Mulligan, Jr. Jones is crowing about Jake Roberts.  Funk wins with the spinning toe hold.

-Int. w/Bob Cuadle: Sweet Brown Sugar & Wayne Jones
This is in lieu of local promos. Sugar introduces Jones, who is in from Canada. He puts over the Mid-Atlantic competition. Yeah, I never heard of him either.

[Break]

Match 4
Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle d. Ron Rossi & Vinnie Valentino
Caudle notes the ex-champs lost the belts in Greensboro, and they are angry. He also notes the return match in the cage. Slaughter drops a knee in Rossi’s chest, with Kernodle on his shoulders (in a fireman’s carry) for extra weight. Atomic Bomb on Valentino. That’s not good enough. Slaughter puts Valentino down with the Cobra Clutch for the win. “They got to be the two angriest men in wrestling,” Caudle says during the replay.

[Break]

Match 5
Mike Rotundo & Sweet Brown Sugar & Wayne Jones
d. Red Dog Lane & Rick Harris & Ben Alexander
Caudle notes this is a rare six-man. Rotundo is in first. He tags out to Sugar, who works drop kicks. Who tags out to Jones, who looks like he is in his first match. Jones does some poor stomps, but gets a powerslam on Alexander for the pin.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Greg Valentine
Valentine has his blue robe. He says the U.S. belt is second only to Ric Flair’s World title. And, that will be his soon. He says the NWA made the belt just for him. His name is written on the front (was it?). Valentine mentions prior U.S. champs: his father, Wahoo, Steamboat, Ric Flair. Caudle says they are still friends. Valentine admits that is true, but once they get in the ring, all he thinks about is winning.

Valentine calls himself the greatest U.S. champion of all time. He says Flair is great, but he can be better. Almost a babyface interview for The Hammer.

Match 6
Non-Title: Greg Valentine [United States champion] d. Bill White
And, here Valentine is wrestling a heel prelim. White gives him some trouble, but Valentine wins clean with the Figure Four leglock. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Greg Valentine; Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle
Valentine says he’ll make Flair and Piper submit like Bill White did. Last week, he called Piper’s bluff, and now Piper’s afraid.

Slaughter & Kernodle enter. They are skeptical of another cage, but they want the World tag team title back. He says he can take Greg Gagne and beat him for his U.S. title. Yes, he slipped out the wrong name. He can take Dory Funk. He can take Flair. But, he wants the tag team titles back. Kernodle gets the final word.

“So long for now!”

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

Results for the week, 3/14/83-3/20/83
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock)

Mon., 3/14/83 Greenville, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Gene Anderson beat Vinnie Valentino
Jerry Brisco beat Lenny Lane
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Johnny Weaver & Jim Nelson
Jack Brisco beat Dory Funk, Jr. by DQ
Greg Valentine beat Roddy Piper

Mon., 3/14/83 Newton, NC
Mike Rotundo beat Ken Timbs
Liz Chase beat Judy Martin
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Gene Anderson & Red Dog Lane
Jerry Brisco beat Dory Funk, Jr. by DQ 

Tue., 3/15/83 Raleigh, NC; Civic Center
Dizzy Hogan beat Bill White
Jos LeDuc beat Ricky Harris
Bugsy McGraw beat Masa Fuchi
U.S. Heavyweight championship: Greg Valentine beat Sweet Brown Sugar
New York Street Fight: Jimmy Valiant beat One Man Gang, as a result…
Lites Out: Jimmy Valiant d. Sir Oliver Humperdink

Tue., 3/15/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Mike George beat Ken Timbs
Mike Rotundo beat Red Dog Lane
Jerry Brisco beat Gene Anderson
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Jim Nelson & Johnny Weaver
Jack Brisco beat Dory Funk, Jr. in a Texas death match

Wed., 3/16/83 Charlotte, NC; WPCQ-TV studio
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling:
Great Kabuki beat Mike Davis
One Man Gang beat Ken Timbs
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Masa Fuchi
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Vinnie Valentino & Ron Rossi
Wayne Jones, Sweet Brown Sugar & Mike Rotundo beat Ricky Harris, Ben Alexander & Red Dog Lane
Greg Valentine beat Bill White
World Wide Wrestling:
Greg Valentine beat Mike Davis
One Man Gang beat Ron Rossi
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Ben Alexander
Great Kabuki beat Vinnie Valentino
Wayne Jones & Sweet Brown Sugar beat Masa Fuchi & Ricky Harris
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Ken Timbs & Bill White

Thu., 3/17/83 Norfolk, VA; Scope Coliseum
Vinnie Valentino beat Mark Fleming
Jerry Brisco beat Masa Fuchi
Greg Valentine & Dick Slater beat Mike Rotundo & Bugsy McGraw
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Jack Brisco
Jimmy Valiant beat One Man Gang in a no DQ match
Jimmy Valiant beat Oliver Humperdink in a lights out match 

Fri., 3/18/83 Richmond, VA; Richmond Coliseum
Mike George beat Mark Fleming
Mike Rotundo beat Masa Fuchi
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Gene Anderson & Red Dog Lane
Mike Rotundo won a battle royal
Jimmy Valiant, Ricky Steamboat & Bugsy McGraw beat Dick Slater, One Man Gang & Oliver Humperdink
NWA World Champion Ric Flair draw Greg Valentine

Fri., 3/18/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Wayne Jones beat Bill White
Mike Davis beat Ken Timbs
Jos LeDuc beat Ricky Harris
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Sweet Brown Sugar in a Texas death match
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Johnny Weaver & Jim Nelson

Sat., 3/19/83 Spartanburg, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Bugsy McGraw beat Ricky Harris
Dizzy Hogan beat Bill White
Jake Roberts(sub for Masa Fuchi) beat Mike Davis
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Johnny Weaver & Jim Nelson
Jimmy Valiant beat Greg Valentine by DQ

Sun., 3/20/83 Savannah, GA; Civic Center
Jerry Brisco beat Ken Timbs
Jos LeDuc beat Ricky Harris
Mike George & Mike Davis beat Bill White & Masa Fuchi
Jimmy Valiant beat Oliver Humperdink
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Jake Roberts by DQ
Jimmy Valiant & Bugsy McGraw beat Greg Valentine & Dick Slater

Sun., 3/20/83 Asheville, NC; Civic Center
Ben Alexander beat Wayne Jones
Mike Rotundo beat Red Dog Lane
Johnny Weaver beat Gene Anderson
Sgt. Slaughter, Pvt. Kernodle & One Man Gang beat Jim Nelson, Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Jack Brisco beat Dory Funk, Jr. by DQ

Crockett Cup '85 Round Two Continues: The Texas Outlaws Reunite

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: #29 AND #30
(Second Round Matches #13 and #14):
- Texas Outlaws (Rhodes & Murdoch) vs. The Dynamic Duo (Adams/Hernandez)
- Iron Sheik/Volkoff (w/ Blassie) vs. Ricky Steamboat & Jimmy Snuka

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 continues.

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 took place at the Richmond Coliseum on Saturday April 13. The remaining eight matches in round one take place at the Asheville Civic Center on Sunday April 14. Bob Caudle and David Crockett are calling the matches tonight but you never know which announcers from another promotion might show up. Our previous two matches featured the mysterious masked men known as the Oklahoma Cowboys defeating “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and “Cowboy” Bob Orton as well as a battle of the brothers with Terry and Dory Funk Jr. defeating Mark and Jay Youngblood. As round two continues, bear 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.

**********

Johnny Weaver is backstage with “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. Dusty says Johnny Weaver knows all about tag team wrestling so he’s happy “The Dean of Wrestling” is here to see his surprise partner. Dusty says he looked high and low for the perfect partner and he says there were so many great names he had to choose from, but only one man was up to the million-dollar challenge. Dusty says he needed someone wild, someone tough, and someone who’s an outlaw just like him. “The Dream” introduces his partner— “Captain Redneck” Dick Murdoch. Johnny Weaver’s jaw drops as Dusty says, “That’s right Johnny Weaver. I went and got myself my old Texas Outlaw partner, Dick Murdoch.”

Murdoch takes the microphone and proclaims, “Dusty and I go way back so when he called me up and asked me if I wanted to win a million dollars, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. We’re gonna smash through these teams and remind the world that there’s no team as wild as the Texas Outlaws.”

The Texas Outlaws (Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch)
vs. the Dynamic Duo (“Gentleman” Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez)
with “Playboy” Gary Hart
The heels are in the ring when the fans start cheering. Rhodes and Murdoch are each riding horses to the ring! The fans are on their feet as the building seems to be shaking. David Crockett says he can’t believe Dusty chose Dick Murdoch. Who would have ever guessed? Bob Caudle notes that with a million dollars up for the grabbing, Dusty went with a man he knows well. They have their work cut out for them though as the young team of Adams and Hernandez were impressive in round one, Bob notes. David adds the team is downright dangerous with that snake Gary Hart in their corner. 

Referee Sonny Fargo checks both teams for foreign objects and such as Dusty and Gino go into a collar-and-elbow tie-up. Dusty applies a side headlock on Gino, who manages to slip out and bounce off the ropes, with “The Dream” shoulder-blocking him down to the mat. Hernandez motions that Rhodes grabbed his hair which leads to a befuddled look from the official. Dusty picks up Hernandez and bodyslams him as Chris Adams runs in, only for the British judo expert to catch a Bionic Elbow to the head. Gino gets up and charges Dusty and he too gets an elbow for his efforts. Dick Murdoch doesn’t seem to want to miss out on the fun and he enters the ring, whipping Hernandez into the ropes and elbowing him in the chest. Rhodes and Murdoch then grab Adams and whip him into the ropes, clotheslining him. Gary Hart gets up on the mat apron as Dusty delivers a big elbow to him, knocking Hart off the mat apron. 

Dusty tags in Dick Murdoch who punches Hernandez, getting a warning from the referee about the closed fist. Murdoch ignores Fargo and punches “Gorgeous” Gino again, knocking him down. Murdoch plants his boot on Hernandez’s throat as he holds the rope for more leverage, with Sonny Fargo beginning a five-count. David Crockett says Hernandez and Adams weren’t expecting this kind of welcome. Bob Caudle adds that there are some rough-and-tumble teams in the tournament, but few with as much experience as Rhodes and Murdoch. Murdoch lifts Hernandez and tags in Rhodes. The two grab Gino and slingshot “The Handsome Half-breed” into the babyface corner. Dusty snapmares Gino then applies a facelock, putting the pressure on. Gino goes to grab Dusty’s hair, but Rhodes just ups the pressure. Gino finally escapes with a thumb to the eye that somehow the referee doesn’t see. Gino runs to his corner and tags in Adams. The two whip Dusty into the ropes and catch him with a double elbow to the chest. Risking disqualification as the referee orders Gino out, the Dynamic Duo lift Rhodes up for a double suplex. Cover on Dusty but he kicks out at two.

Tag to Chris Adams who hits a legdrop on Stardust as he’s still down on the mat. Gino Hernandez points towards Dick Murdoch and the referee turns around, allowing Adams to get in a judo chop to the throat on Dusty. Adams picks up Dusty and throws him into the ropes, hitting a superkick. Chris Adams doesn’t go for the cover, something David Crockett says he’s surprised by. Another tag out as Gino comes in, whipping Dusty into the ropes and locking on a sleeperhold. Dusty quickly falls to one knee as the fans begin chanting “Dusty! Dusty!” “The American Dream” starts juking and jiving as David Crockett says “Dusty’s fighting! He’s fighting to get out of that sleeper!” Dusty gets to his feet and elbows Hernandez in the gut. Hernandez holds on. Another elbow and Gino’s letting up. Gino grabs Rhodes’ hair and yanks him down to the mat as referee Sonny Fargo warns Hernandez about the hair pull.  Gino picks up Dusty and whips him into the heel corner. However, Dusty reverses the Irish whip and Hernandez flies into the corner, knocking Adams off the mat apron. Dusty tags in “Captain Redneck” who comes running in, clotheslining Hernandez. Murdoch lifts up Gino and delivers a brutal brainbuster, covering him for the pin. The referee has already made the three-count by the time Chris Adams gets back in the ring.

Winners: Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch

 
Tony Schiavone is backstage with the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff along with the team’s manager “Classy” Freddie Blassie. Blassie waves his cane around and calls Schiavone a pencil-neck geek. If he’s seen one, he’s seen them all. Blassie berates Schiavone some more before telling Schiavone his team are the WWF Tag Team Champions and the greatest tag team in the world. He boasts of the Sheik’s Olympic wrestling skills and the undeniable power of Nikolai Volkoff. Nikolai says a few words saying it’s a great opportunity to show how second-rate American wrestlers are and the only other team that are close to him and the Iron Sheik are his comrades the Koloffs. Schiavone asks Nikolai what will happen if he and the Iron Sheik have to battle the Koloffs. Blassie tells Schiavone not to cause trouble and the Iron Sheik takes over, flexing his muscles as he shouts “Cameraman zoom!” The Iron Sheik says Jimmy Snuka and Ricky Steamboat are two jabronis and he and Nikolai will destroy them.

The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff (with Freddie Blassie)
vs. Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
Nikolai comes into the ring with a flag from the Soviet Union while the Iron Sheik brings in the Iranian flag. The ring announcer tells the fans that Nikolai Volkoff requests their silence while he sings the Soviet national anthem. The fans begin booing then “The Marines’ Hymn” plays as David Crockett asks “What is that?” Bob Caudle says, “I don’t believe this” as Sgt. Slaughter leads Jimmy Snuka and Ricky Steamboat to the ring, with Sarge waving the American flag. The three babyfaces get in the ring and the heels are furious, pointing at Sgt. Slaughter. Freddie Blassie waves referee Dick Woehrle over and says something to him. Woehrle motions for Slaughter to leave the area as Bob Caudle says, “The referee may be telling Sgt. Slaughter to leave because he doesn’t have his manager’s license.” David Crockett says that’s not fair but Slaughter leaves the ring. Caudle says “Slaughter’s appearance really seems to have shaken up the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff.” 

Woehrle does the pre-match inspection but as he’s checking Snuka and Steamboat, the heels charge the babyfaces. The Iron Sheik and Volkoff start punching and kicking Snuka and Steamboat, but the babyfaces counter with big chops that send both men back then forces them to bail out of the ring. Steamboat begins clucking like a chicken as Snuka invites the heels to get back in the ring. Volkoff and the Iron Sheik take a page out of the Larry Zbyszko playbook and go for the stall, but the referee begins a ten count, forcing them back into the ring. Snuka locks up with Volkoff who uses his bear-like power to shove Snuka into the corner. Volkoff laughs at “The Superfly” and invites him to a test of strength. Snuka and Volkoff interlock their fingers, with the big man powering Snuka to his knees. However, Snuka is no lightweight and begins to get to his feet. It looks like Snuka is getting the advantage when Volkoff kicks him in the gut. 

Volkoff drops a forearm across Snuka’s back, dropping him to the mat. The big Russian kicks Snuka in the back then bodyslams him down hard to the mat. Tag to the Iron Sheik who lifts Snuka up, delivering a salto to the “Superfly.” Cover on Snuka, but he kicks out at two. Sheiky-baby stomps Snuka in the back as Ricky Steamboat is leading the fans in cheering Snuka on. 

More punishment for Snuka as the Iron Sheik bounces off the ropes and drops an elbow on Snuka. David Crockett says Snuka is in trouble and needs to tag. Bob Caudle notes that Snuka can change that if he can tag in a fresh man. Snuka is whipped into the ropes by the Iron Sheik who delivers a big back body-drop to the Fiji Island’s favorite son. The Iron Sheik then goes to apply an abdominal stretch, but Bob Caudle notes the Sheik hasn’t locked it in all the way. David Crockett cheers on “The Superfly” as Snuka manages to hip-toss the Iron Sheik, escaping the hold. Snuka is down on his hands and knees as the Iron Sheik gets up and comes after him with a double axe-handle. Snuka gets to his knees and headbutts the Sheik in the breadbasket, stunning him. Snuka gets up and delivers a knife-edge chop, sending the Iron Sheik back some more. The Iron Sheik charges at Snuka, only to get caught with a headbutt. Snuka then tumbles to his corner and makes the hot tag. 

Steamboat comes in and chops his opponent, then whips him into the ropes where he delivers another chop. Steamboat bounces off the ropes and drops a knee across the Iron Sheik’s head. Steamboat picks up the Iron Sheik and bodyslams him in a neutral corner. Bob Caudle points out that Steamboat is dazzling the Iron Sheik with his stupendous speed. Steamboat climbs to the second rope and delivers a flying chop to the Iron Sheik as he’s getting to his feet. Cover on the Iron Sheik, but Volkoff comes in and kicks Steamboat in the back of the head, breaking up the pin. Steamboat goes after Volkoff, chopping him and sending him back to the heel corner. Steamboat rams Volkoff’s head into the turnbuckle and as he does, the Iron Sheik starts stomping on his boot. David Crockett says that the Iron Sheik is loading up his boot. Crockett says it’s the same thing that wrestler named Hussein the Arab used to do. Bob Caudle reminds David that Hussein the Arab is the Iron Sheik as David yells “Watch out!” Steamboat turns around as the Iron Sheik goes to kick him in the gut. Steamboat spins the Sheik around and delivers an atomic drop on the Iron Sheik then whips him into the ropes. Ricky goes for a back body-drop only to catch the loaded boot to the head and he goes down like the proverbial sack of potatoes. Cover by the Iron Sheik. Jimmy Snuka should be making the save, but he’s chasing Freddie Blassie who just hit him in the leg with the cane. By the time “The Superfly” sees what’s going on in the ring, it’s all over.

Winners: The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff

After the match, Snuka checks on Steamboat while the Iron Sheik grabs the microphone and says “Iran, number one! Russia, number one! Look at USA now!” David Crockett says it’s a dark day for America after the Sheik and Volkoff stole that win. 

Join us next time as round two of the tournament continues as The Fantastics battle the Fabulous Ones while The Fabulous Freebirds take on The Sheepherders. Which teams will prevail as round two continues and the remaining teams’ quest for tag team immortality and some serious cash continues?

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

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)
Second Round: Matches 5 & 6 (Tournament 21 & 22)
    Midnight Express vs. Hart Foundation
    PYT Express vs. High Flyers
Second Round: Matches 7 & 8 (Tournament 23 & 24) 
    Rude/Barr (with Percy Pringle III) vs. Kevin and Mike Von Erich
    Fujinami/Kimura vs. British Bulldogs
Second Round: Matches 9 & 10 (Tournament 25 & 26)
    Brody/Hansen vs. Williams/DiBiase
    Road Warriros vs. Lawler/Dundee
Second Round: Matches 11 & 12 (Tournament 27 & 28)
    Piper & Orton vs. The Oklahoma Cowboys
    The Funk Brothers vs. The Younglood Brothers
Second Round: Matches 13 & 14 (Tournament 29 & 30)
    Rhodes/Murdoch vs. Adams/Hernandez
    Sheik/Volkoff vs. Steamboat/Snuka

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

The World Heavyweight Champions and the Titles They Held in the Mid-Atlantic Area

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

During the Mid-Atlantic era of 1973-1986 (when the territory went by that name) there were several NWA world champions that held regional titles here either before or after they were world champion.

We take a look at those champions and the titles they held.


Dory Funk, Jr.
Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (1983, 1984)

Okay, I'm already cheating a little bit here. Technically the "Mid-Atlantic era" began in October 1973 when the Eastern title was renamed the Mid-Atlantic title, and the Atlantic Coast tag team titles were renamed the Mid-Atlantic tag team titles. Jack Brisco was NWA champion by that time. But since we've broadly listed the Mid-Atlantic years as beginning in the year 1973, I thought I'd include the man who was NWA champion at the beginning of that year, Dory Funk, Jr.

Dory won the the Mid-Atlantic Championship in early 1983, nearly 10 years after losing the NWA title to Harley Race in Kansas City. I always loved the fact that the man he defeated was none other than his arch rival in the 1970s Jack Brisco. Funk/Brisco was the defining rivalry of the 1970s, and so it was very cool to see these two legendary figures trade our territory's championship all these years later.

Funk also held the Mid-Atlantic title in 1984 wrestling under a mask and known as the Masked Outlaw.


Harley Race
United States Heavyweight Championship (1975)

When booker George Scott decided to establish a United States championship in the Mid-Atlantic area, the man he chose to launch that title was former NWA champion Harley Race. Race had held the NWA title for three short months in 1973, and that line on his resume helped give the new title credibility right off the bat.

Race was brought in to defend the U.S. title against Johnny Valentine, putting Valentine over to establish the championship in the territory. He was announced on area television as U.S. champion weeks before the July 1975 match with Valentine, but in reality he was champion for that one night only - bringing the title to the ring and dropping it to Valentine in what is still remembered to this day as a classic.


Jack Brisco
Eastern Heavyweight Championship (1971, 1972)
Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (1982)
World Tag Team Championship (with Jerry Brisco in 1983 and 1984)

Jack Brisco held area championships both before and after he was NWA World Heavyweight champion. He won the Eastern Heavyweight title (the forerunner to the Mid-Atlantic title) from the Missouri Mauler just after Thanksgiving in 1971 at a High Point, NC TV taping, and then traded the title with Rip Hawk in 1972, a little over a year before winning the NWA title from Harley Race.

Brisco was never a regular here in the early 1970s, despite winning our area's championship twice. His home area was always Florida, but he was booked out to lots of territories for exposure as he was being groomed for an NWA title run. He made lots of shots here in 1972 and 1973 leading up to his NWA title victory over Race, usually over a weekend, but sometimes lasting a whole week.

Brisco's first full-time run in the Mid-Atlantic area began in the spring of 1982 and lasted until jumping to the WWF in 1984 after selling his stock in the NWA Georgia promotion to Vince McMahon. In 1982 he had great feuds over the Mid-Atlantic title with Roddy Piper and an old Florida rival from the early 1970s, Paul Jones. He eventually lost the title for good after his 6th title reign (which included the Eastern title reigns) to career arch-rival and former world champion Dory Funk, Jr.

Following his Mid-Atlantic title run, Jack reunited with his brother Jerry to defeat Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood for the NWA World tag team titles in the late spring of 1983 and held those titles multiple times over the next year before losing them in April of 1984 to Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood right before leaving for the WWF.


Giant Baba
None

Baba obviously never held a title here, but did wrestle here on a few occasions, most notably a 1977 card in Greensboro that shared talent between Jim Crockett Promotions and Baba's All-Japan Wrestling. Baba defeated Baron Von Raschke on that card.

Image from The Domed Globe Website at tenpoundsofgold.blogspot.com

Terry Funk
United States Heavyweight Championship (1975)

Funk was given a short run as U.S. champion in November 1975 to set the stage for winning the NWA title in December of that year.

Following champion Johnny Valentine's career-ending airplane accident in October 1975, Funk was tabbed to win the tournament to fill the vacant title. Funk defeated Paul Jones in the finals of the Greensboro tournament, and then returned three weeks later on the big Thanksgiving night show in the same city to drop the title to Jones. Two weeks later, Funk defeated Jack Brisco to win the the NWA World title in Miami Beach, Florida.


Dusty Rhodes
NWA World Tag Team Championship (with Dick Slater in 1977, Manny Fernandez in 1984)
NWA World TV Title (1985, 1986)
National Heavyweight Title (1985)
United States Heavyweight Championship (1987)

I'm cheating a little bit again here by listing the NWA World Tag Titles in 1977, because even thought Rhodes and partner Dick Slater did indeed hold those belts for four weeks, they never actually defended them in our area. But those NWA World Tag Team titles were Mid-Atlantic area titles, established here in early 1975. The Andersons took the titles with them to Georgia in late 1976 and basically were there with them for the better part of a year, trading them with Flair and Valentine during that time. It was while they were in Georgia with the belts that they lost the titles to Dusty Rhodes and Dick Slater in September of 1977.

Rhodes and Slater were set to defend the titles in Greensboro on 10/30/77 against former champions Flair and Valentine but lost the titles back to the Andersons a week or so before that scheduled match.

Rhodes, however, did win the World Tag Titles with Manny Fernandez in 1984. It was at the beginning of his run as booker for Jim Crockett Promotions, and in the next four years would give himself multiple runs as NWA World TV champion in feuds with Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson. He also had a run as National Heavyweight champion, awarding himself the title after firing Buddy Landel in December of 1985.

Rhodes won the U.S. championship from Lex Luger at Starrcade '87. He was stripped of the title after accidentally hitting Jim Crockett with a baseball bat in 1988. It was a title Rhodes had chased at various times since the title had been established in 1975. He was Johnny Valentine's first challenger in Greensboro, and challenged Flair for the title in a memorable match in 1979 that involved special referee Buddy Rogers. After that long chase, it was nice to see him finally win it.


Tommy Rich
None

Tommy Rich never held titles here, but he did wrestle here on occasion, most notably a short run when Ole Anderson was booking both the Mid-Atlantic and Georgia territories simultaneously in 1981. He also wrestled here for about a month in late 1983.


Ric Flair
Mid-Atlantic TV Championship (1975, 1977)
Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles (w/ Rip Hawk 1975, Greg Valentine 1977, John Studd 1978)
Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (1975, 1976)
United States Heavyweight Championship (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)
NWA World Tag Team Championship (with Greg Valentine in 1976 and 1977; and Blackjack Mulligan in 1979)

Ric Flair first won the NWA World Heavyweight championship in 1981. Prior to that he held every regional and national championship there was in the Mid-Atlantic area. Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling was his home area, and he is the only world champion to come straight out of our territory.

His first championship was the Mid-Atlantic tag title with his "uncle" Rip Hawk in 1974. He followed that up with his first singles title defeating Paul Jones for the TV title in early 1975.

But his break-out run began with winning the Mid-Atlantic title from Wahoo McDaniel in September of 1975, just weeks before being involved in the same plane crash that ended the career of Johnny Valentine. Though he was told he would likely never wrestle again, Flair returned better than ever in early 1976 and held the Mid-Atlantic and United States singles titles as well as the NWA World Tag Team titles over the next 6 years before finally winning the ultimate prize, the NWA World Heavyweight championship.


Kerry Von Erich
None

To my knowledge, Kerry never wrestled for Jim Crockett Promotions, although I could be wrong. Please let us know if I am! His two older brothers did, though. Kevin and David teamed in a January 1982 tag team tournament  in Charlotte, NC.

 Originally published September 27, 2015 and August 5, 2019 here on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

* * * * * * * * * *

For more information on these great champions of the National Wrestling Alliance, check out the book "Ten Pounds of Gold."

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: March 12, 1983

Mid-Atlantic 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: 03/12/83
(taped 03/09/83 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)
WWE Network Direct Link to this show Mid-Atlantic 03/12/83
WWE Network feed.   [How to watch this show on the WWE Network.] 

The Network skips the 3/05/83 show (three shows in a row missing). Results will be at the end here.

Match 1
Non-Title: Greg Valentine (United States Champion) d. Jim Burnett
Valentine has a beautiful robe, and a brand new U.S. title belt. Stu Schwartz is the referee for the hour. Roddy Piper is on commentary. Although he is introduced as Burnett, during the match he is called Barnett, as in Jim Barnett. Piper is calling things right down the middle. Valentine wins with the Figure Four.

Caudle shows a poster of Andre the Giant, who is coming in soon. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Greg Valentine
Valentine wanders over, and wonders why Piper dares to commentate his match. Caudle admits Piper was being fair. Valentine takes offense when Piper says he never defends the title. Valentine asks if Piper wants the belt back. Piper answers in the affirmative. Valentine challenges Piper, and he’ll put up the title right here on TV.

[Break]

[CLIP] We go to a clip of Andre the Giant in action, from the WWF, against The Black Demon. Vince McMahon & Pat Patterson are on commentary. A win for Andre.

Match 2
Dick Slater & One Man Gang d. Vinnie Valentino & Ron Rossi
Sir Oliver Humperdink joins Caudle on the mic. They talk about Andre, and Humperdink knows Gang can take him. Gang and Slater take turns splashing Rossi, with Gang getting the pin. 

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sir Oliver Humperdink and One Man Gang
Humperdink says Gang can beat Jimmy Valiant in anything, drinking, chess, checkers, singing, etc.

[Break]

Match 3
Mike Rotundo & Sweet Brown Sugar d. Bill White & Ricky Harris
Rotundo pinned Harris after the airplane spin. Not much to the match.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Mike Rotundo & Sweet Brown Sugar
This is in lieu of local promos. Rotundo talks about how he can trust Sugar. He wants the TV title back. Sugar runs down the tag team scene.

[Break]

Match 4
Jim Nelson & Johnny Weaver d. Ben Alexander & Chick Donovan
Gary Hart joins Caudle on commentary. Hart says Kabuki will be here next week. Weaver pins Donovan with the bulldog.

[Break]

Match 5
Non-Title Match:
Dory Funk, Jr. [Mid-Atlantic ch.] (w/Paul Jones) d. Ken Timbs
Jones joins Caudle. Jones bestows praise upon Funk. Jones says he adds class to the show. Dory wins with the Texas Cloverleaf, correctly identified by Jones. I’ve never seen anyone use it until Dean Malenko 10 years later.

Match 6
Non-Title Match:
Ric Flair (NWA World Heavyweight Champion) d. Masa Fuchi
Flair gets cheers. The context of why he is popular again in Mid-Atlantic is lost on the TV shows on the Network. Paul Jones compliments Flair, so maybe he isn’t full fledged heel. Bell rings. “Let me tell you about this punk Ric Flair…” Awesome. Jones does a Bobby Heenan. Jones doesn’t like Flair’s tan. Jones trashes Flair in a hushed tone. When Flair is on the side of the ring close to the announcer’s desk, Jones yells praise for Flair. Meanwhile, good mat wrestling in the ring. “Now, we’re going to school.” Caudle asks what he just heard. Flair slaps on the Figure Four for the win, to the praise of Jones. Flair offers a hand to Fuchi.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Dory Funk, Jr. and Paul Jones
This is in lieu of local promos. Jones thinks Funk can win the World title back. They are going to travel so much, they will have a suntan darker than Flair. Funk wants to go to Florida, to challenge “That fat guy down there?” Jones asks. Funk talks about the Midnight Rider, Mike Graham and Barry Windham. Jones references the time he threw the belt off the bridge.

[Break]

U.S. Heavyweight Championship:
Roddy Piper d. Greg Valentine [ch.] by DQ
Gary Hart joins in for commentary. A lot of intense locking up. About a minute in, Piper backdrops Valentine over the top. The referee calls for the DQ. Both Valentine and Piper are upset. The referee agrees to continue the match. Hart says the referee doesn’t have that right. After the restart, Valentine takes control. He goes for the Figure Four and locks it on, despite Piper trying to block it. Piper reverses it. Hart is keeping score in the match, 2 points for Piper. Rope break. It’s turning into a slugfest. Piper neckbreaker. Getting revenge, Piper rubs Valentine’s face in the mat. Time is running out. The closing music plays. On cue, Dick Slater comes in the ring for the DQ.

Credits are rolling as the attack continues, as the heels finally leave. Piper gets up, slowly. And, we’re done.

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

Results for the week, 3/01/83-3/13/83
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock) 

Tue., 3/01/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Gene Anderson & Red Dog Lane beat Tom Prichard & Joe Lightfoot
Sweet Brown Sugar & Dizzy Hogan beat The Moondogs
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Jack Brisco
Jimmy Valiant beat Greg Valentine by DQ

Wed., 3/02/83 Charlotte, NC; WCPQ-TV studio
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling:
Greg Valentine beat Tom Prichard
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Ben Alexander & Ken Timbs
Mike Rotundo beat Dick Slater DQ
Jim Nelson & Johnny Weaver beat Masa Fuchi & Ricky Harris
One Man Gang beat Joe Lightfoot
World Wide Wrestling:
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Ben Alexander & Masa Fuchi
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Vinnie Valentino & Ron Rossi
One Man Gang beat Ken Timbs
Greg Valentine beat Joe Lightfoot
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Tom Prichard
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Ricky Harris & Red Dog Lane

Thu., 3/03/83 Sumter, SC; Exhibition Center
Joe Lightfoot beat Ricky Harris
Velvet McIntyre beat Donna Christianello
Mike George & Chick Donovan beat The Moondogs
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Sweet Brown Sugar
Jimmy Valiant beat One Man Gang in a New York street fight match

Fri., 3/04/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Ricky Harris beat Vinnie Valentino
Dizzy Hogan beat Ken Timbs
Jimmy Valiant beat Greg Valentine
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Dick Slater & One Man Gang
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Dory Funk, Jr. in a Texas death match

Sat., 3/05/83 Charlotte, NC; Charlotte Coliseum
Masa Fuchi beat Bill White
Sweet Brown Sugar beat The Ninja
Mike George beat Ricky Harris
Jim Nelson beat Sgt. Slaughter by DQ
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Jack Brisco
Ricky Steamboat, Jay Youngblood & Jimmy Valiant beat Greg Valentine, Terry Funk & Oliver Humperdink

Sun., 3/06/83 Savannah, GA; Civic Center
Gene Anderson beat Dizzy Hogan
Mike George beat Masa Fuchi
One Man Gang beat Sweet Brown Sugar
Greg Valentine beat Mike Rotundo
Jimmy Valiant beat Dick Slater by DQ
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Dory Funk, Jr. & Terry Funk

Sun., 3/6/83 Toronto, Ontario; Maple Leaf Gardens
Billy Red Lyons beat Bobby Bass
Johnny Weaver & Terry Kay beat the Destroyer & Red Dog Lane
Jim Nelson beat Rudy Kay via pinfall
Leo Burke beat Vinnie Valentino
Tiger Jeet Singh beat Kurt Von Hess
Big John Studd beat Salvatore Bellomo
2 of 3 falls: Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle by countout in third fall

Mon., 3/7/83 Greenville, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Gene Anderson & Masa Fuchi beat Mike Davis & Mike George
Bugsy McGraw beat The Ninja
Jimmy Valiant beat Oliver Humperdink in a lights out match
Jimmy Valiant beat One Man Gang
Roddy Piper beat Dick Slater

Tue., 3/8/83 Columbia, SC; Township Auditorium
Bill White beat Dale Barnett
Johnny Weaver beat Chick Donovan
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Gene Anderson & Red Dog Lane
Jimmy Valiant & Bugsy McGraw beat Dick Slater & One Man Gang
Jack Brisco beat Dory Funk, Jr. by DQ 

Wed., 3/09/83 Charlotte, NC ; WCPQ-TV studio
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling:
Greg Valentine beat Jim Burnett
One Man Gang & Dick Slater beat Vinnie Valentino & Ron Rossi
Mike Rotundo & Sweet Brown Sugar beat Bill White & Ricky Harris
Jim Nelson & Johnny Weaver beat Ben Alexander & Chick Donovan
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Ken Timbs
Ric Flair beat Masa Fuchi
U.S. title: Roddy Piper d. Greg Valentine by DQ
World Wide Wrestling:
Greg Valentine beat Ken Timbs
One Man Gang & Dick Slater beat Mike George & Vinnie Valentino
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Jim Burnett
Ric Flair beat Ron Rossi
Jim Nelson, Johnny Weaver & Sweet Brown Sugar beat Bill White, Masa Fuchi & Ben Alexander
Mike Rotundo beat Chick Donovan

Wed., 3/09/83 Fisherville, VA; Augusta Expo
Tommy Gilbert beat Bill White
Frank Monte beat Ken Timbs
Masa Fuchi beat Mark Fleming
Johnny Weaver & Jim Nelson beat Red Dog Lane & Gene Anderson
Sweet Brown Sugar beat The Ninja by DQ
Dick Slater beat Jerry Brisco
Jimmy Valiant beat Greg Valentine

Thu., 3/10/83 Chester, SC; Chester High School
Jimmy Valiant vs. Oliver Humperdink
Bugsy McGraw vs. Gene Anderson
The Moondogs vs. Chick Donovan & Mike George
Ricky Harris vs. Vinnie Valentino
Red Dog Lane vs. Tom Pritchard

Thu., 3/10/83 Sumter, SC; Exhibition Center
Mike Davis vs. Masa Fuchi
Dizzy Hogan vs. The Ninja
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco vs. Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Pvt. Kernodle & Sgt. Slaughter vs. Bugsy McGraw & Jimmy Valiant
Fri., 3/11/83 Hampton, VA; Hampton Coliseum

Terri Shane & Joyce Grable beat Judy Martin & Liz Chase
Mike George beat Ken Timbs
Mike Rotundo beat Mark Fleming
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat One Man Gang & Red Dog Lane
Roddy Piper beat Dick Slater
NWA World Champion Ric Flair beat Dory Funk, Jr.

Fri., 3/11/83 Charleston, SC; County Hall
Bugsy McGraw beat Masa Fuchi
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Ricky Harris
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Johnny Weaver & Jim Nelson by DQ
Jimmy Valiant beat Gene Anderson
Jimmy Valiant beat Oliver Humperdink in a lights out match

Sat., 3/12/83 Conway, SC
Bugsy McGraw d. Ninja
Sweet Brown Sugar d. Paul Jones
Jimmy Valiant d. One Man Gang
Dory Funk, Jr. d. Jack Brisco

Sat., 3/12/83 Greensboro, NC; Greensboro Coliseum
Ring announcers: Tom Miller
Jerry Brisco d. Ken Timbs; Tommy Young
Mike Rotundo d. Rick Harris; Sonny Fargo
Jim Nelson & Johnny Weaver d. Red Dog Lane & Gene Anderson; Tommy Young
NWA TV championship (for first 15 minutes): Roddy Piper d. Dick Slater [ch.] (w/Gary Hart) after the 15-minute mark, so the title did not change hands; Sonny Fargo
NWA World Heavyweight championship: Ric Flair [ch.] TLD Greg Valentine
World tag team championship/cage match/no time limit/anything goes/Steamboat & Youngblood must break up if they lose: Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle to win title; Sandy Scott

Sun., 3/13/83 Roanoke, VA; Roanoke Civic Center
Mike George beat Bill White
Liz Chase beat Judy Martin
Sweet Brown Sugar & Dizzy Hogan beat Masa Fuchi & Jos LeDuc
Jimmy Valiant beat One Man Gang in a chain match
Bugsy McGraw beat Dick Slater
Jimmy Valiant beat Oliver Humperdink in a lights out match

One More Silver Dollar

Bob Geigel takes the NWA belt from the Midnight Rider when the outlaw from Colorado
refused to unmask after pinning NWA World Champion Ric Flair.

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

This picture is yet another in our series of "Great Pretender" photographs (on the Domed Globe website) featuring wrestlers photographed with the NWA World Heavyweight championship belt, but who never held the title.

Well, except, this one is a bit of a cheat. The man under the mask is none other the American Dream Dusty Rhodes who did indeed hold the NWA title (including the domed globe version of the title twice) on three different occasions.

Or was it Rhodes? We may never know for sure.

I've got to run to keep from hiding
And I'm bound to keep on riding
And I've got one more silver dollar
But I'm not gonna let them catch me, no
Not gonna let 'em catch the Midnight Rider

The Midnight Rider pinned Ric Flair to apparently win the title on February 9, 1983 in Miami, Florida. But NWA President Bob Geigel, who served as special referee for the bout, ruled that the NWA would not recognize a masked wrestler as NWA champion without knowing their identity. If the Midnight Rider wanted to keep the NWA title belt and be recognized as champion, he must unmask.

This was a problem for the Midnight Rider.

You see,  Dusty Rhodes had recently lost a loser-leaves-town match to Kevin Sullivan, and was barred from wrestling in the state of Florida for 60 days. If the Rider unmasked and proved to be Rhodes, he would be barred from wrestling under the NWA banner for a year. Stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place, Rider refused to unmask, and the NWA World heavyweight title was returned to Flair.

One of our favorite wrestling stories ever from the Florida territory, the entire story of the Midnight Rider (at least his first run) is told in great detail by Jason Tepper on the Kayfabe Memories website.  

 

 

Originally posted December 14, 2018 on The Domed Globe website,
part of the Mid-Atlantic Gateway family of websites.

 

Wrapped Up in History: Dr. Tom Prichard on "Crown Jewel"

The following post is edited from an email I received from Tom Prichard after he had read my new book Crown Jewel. A photo Tom took in Houston when he was 15 years old is included in the book. I sent him a copy, and was really pleased to get such a nice note back from him: 

Thank you so very much for the book. I had a chance to sit down for a couple hours and read it. Read and study the pictures.

A couple times…

I was born in 1959 and wrestling was the first thing I remember seeing on TV that really caught my eye. I grew up in El Paso and the Funks were our heroes. We moved to Houston summer 1969 after Dory won the belt. The first time I saw the belt live was at the Sam Houston Coliseum and still remember how cool it looked. Like you mentioned in the book, a lot of people never saw or knew there was a nameplate. It always had a mystery about it to me anyway and I like seeing the details and intricate designs so many of the older belts have.

I’ve found myself googling “Houston 1969” and getting lost in the buildings, structures and businesses that are long gone but played a huge part in my life. I know we can’t go back and “it ain’t yesterday no more” but reading Crown Jewel and looking at the pictures was like wrapping myself up in a cool blanket and going back in time to some of the GREATEST times of my life!

Crown Jewel is loaded cover to cover with
photographs and memorabilia.

History doesn’t seem to mean much to a lot of the guys in the business today. I can understand in some aspects and in other ways I can’t. It’s being diluted more and more as time passes. We’ve crossed the line, jumped the shark, etc. but I still believe it’s important to know who came before you and what impact they had. Good or bad.

For some reason Shawn Michaels reminds me of Rogers. The cliques, entourage, manipulation, heat, etc. Nothing’s really new except we all get a little older as time passes.

I always wanted to be a wrestler. Growing up it was the Funks who inspired me. I got to meet and become friends with some of the people who I admired growing up. Reading and hearing about how things really went down (according to whoever is telling the story) is still fascinating to me.

I had dinner with Bruno about 15 years ago in Tampa. Sal Corrente invited me and I was stoked! Bruno came across so genuine and nice I had to ask him about the Buddy Rogers match. Knowing the rivalry and bits and pieces of the story I asked Bruno if Buddy had a heart attack the week of the match. Of course Bruno laughed and said no, Buddy actually wrestled the entire two weeks right up to that match. I love the stories, fabrications, flim flam and over all larceny involved with the carnies and showman who found their way in and never left.

If I’m going to be honest with myself I believe those aspects intrigued and attracted me to the business more than anything else. Lou took HIS belt when he dropped the TITLE to Hutton. Hutton never had a belt but he was the champ. O’Connor got the belt and the stories were burned into it from there on out. How crazy is it that nobody knows where it is. That huge part of history seemingly gone forever…

This was a great book for all the reasons mentioned as well as the passion I felt from reading it.

Great job. I really enjoyed it.

Tom

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

Follow Tom Prichard on Twitter @drtomprichard and be sure to check out his podcast Taking You to School with Dr. Tom Prichard, part of the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling Empire podcast network.

Flair & Steamboat: Hell Freezes Over. Again.

MAIN EVENT MEMORIES 
The Anderson Brothers vs. Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat 
August 11, 1981 - Raleigh, NC
by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway

"The Hawaiian Punch" Ricky Steamboat and
"Nature Boy" Ric Flair

It's hard to imagine now, with 35 years having passed by and so much water under the bridge, that two superstar wrestlers teaming up would be such a big deal. But in 1981, when Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat joined forces to challenge Ric's cousins Gene and Ole Anderson for their NWA world tag team championship, it was a very big deal.

Not as big, perhaps, as in 1979 when Flair had just turned babyface and fans and good-guy wrestlers alike weren't sure if they could trust the Nature Boy. Back then, when Flair asked Ricky Steamboat to be his partner and challenge Paul Jones and Baron Von Raschke for the NWA world tag titles that summer, it did indeed seem like hell had frozen over. The blood feud between Flair and Steamboat that had been going on for two straight years was unlike any other ever seen in the territory.

That was big, but now this seemed just as big to me for different reasons. This story had multiple layers to it now, calling back to family feuds and broken relationships going back some five long years.

Ric Flair's on-again, off-again relationship with his cousins Gene and Ole Anderson had been one of the greatest on-going stories in Mid-Atlantic Wrestling lore:

• 1976: The big break-up as Flair took Greg Valentine as his partner and wrestled the titles from the Andersons in a scenario so unlikely that it actually made the fans cheer for the hated Anderson brothers. The two teams traded the titles back and forth over the next two years.
• 1978: Ric's reunion with the family in 1978 when blood proved thicker than water and special referee Gene Anderson, thought to be impartial in the war between Flair and Steamboat, helped Ric retain the U.S title in the match where fans felt sure Steamboat would regain it. 
• 1979: The family was at odds again when Flair turned good-guy and cousin Gene became the manager of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka who proceeded to take Ric's U.S. title, and his favorite robe to boot.

Now in 1981, with Gene back in action after his managerial stint was over, the Anderson brothers reunited and regained the world titles. Not being able to leave well enough alone, Ole saw to it that the family feud erupted again when he and Gene joined Ivan Koloff in ganging up 3-on-1 on Flair inside a steel cage.

While Flair's current feud with Koloff had seemed more professional (albeit very violent), the family feud with the Andersons was very personal. With the cousins again waging war, Flair made the decision to once again attempt to do what he hadn't been able to do since his days in 1976-1978 with partner Greg Valentine - - take the NWA world tag team championships from the Andersons.

Flair took several different partners early on to tackle the Minnesota Wrecking Crew - - Blackjack Mulligan, Jay Youngblood, Wahoo McDaniel - - but in the end, there was only one man Flair could turn to that had a chance of making that magic happen again. It was his career long rival and now one of his best friends and allies - - the "Hawaiian Punch" Ricky Steamboat.

Like an onion with seemingly endless layers to peel away, this match-up had all of this tangled up history behind it. Flair was once again living out this family feud that had been going on for five years. Steamboat must have remembered back to the bloody wars with Flair in 1977, how Gene Anderson had helped Ric keep the U.S. title in that major battle of 1978. But the two were able to once again put that history behind them and join forces, just as they had shocked the world in doing two years earlier.

I'm convinced that they would have eventually been successful in taking the world tag team titles from the Andersons had it not been for something else happening in the meantime that changed the face of wrestling history: Ric Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes in Kansas City, KS to win the NWA World Heavyweight title. The Anderson's tag titles were safe once again as Ric Flair turned his attention to touring the world in defense of the "ten pounds of gold."

With the world title in the picture, Flair and Steamboat would renew their rivalry several more times over the next 13 years, but for a brief few weeks in the summer of 1981, there was magic in the air again as hell froze over for a second time and Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat formed one of wrestling's most powerful and exciting combinations.

Originally posted October 27, 2016 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.

Check out other MAIN EVENT MEMORIES on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway:

1. The Anderson Family (1976) The Andersons and their cousin Ric Flair
2. Dusty's Big Championship Weekend (1976) with Flair, Mulligan, and the Andersons
3. Mulligan vs. Flair on a Hot July Night (1978) Worlds Collide!
4. The Origins of Wahoo vs. Flair (1975) with Wahoo McDaniel and Ric Flair
5. Blackjack Mulligan vs. Rufus R. Jones (1976) "Have mercy, Mama!"
6. The Briscos Challenge Flair & Valentine (1978) Jim Crockett makes the match.
7. A Local Boy Gets His Shot (1981) Don Kernodle teams with Ric Flair in his hometown.
8. Bullrope Match: Ole vs. Flair (1981) Dusty prepares Ric for a big match in Charlotte.
9. Ric Flair Wins His First Mid-Atlantic Championship (1975) Hair vs. Title in Hampton!
10. Blackjack Mulligan Regains the U.S. Title (1978) New Year's Night in Richmond
11. The Gathering on Tour (1986) Post Starrcade event in Columbia SC
12. Township Tangle (1978) Flair & Valentine vs. Wahoo & Jones
13. Flair Wins the NWA Title (1981) Historic Win over Dusty Rhodes in Kansas City
14. Brisco, Valentine Defend Titles in Richmond (1974) Huge main events in Richmond

Mid-Atlantic TV Report: February 26, 1983

Mid-Atlantic 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 WTVR-6 in Richmond, VA. (Does not appear 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: 02/26/83
(taped 03/23/83 at WPCQ-TV studios in Charlotte)

WTVR-6 Richmond Feed
THIS PROGRAM IS NOT AVAILABLE ON THE WWE NETWORK

Match 1
Non-Title: Greg Valentine [U.S. Champion] d. Vinnie Valentino
We start with the match already in progress. Stu Schwartz is the referee for the hour. Easy match for The Hammer, who wins with the Figure Four.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Dick Slater & Greg Valentine
Slater is the new TV champion. He says Mike Rotundo is just a kid. He’s a pro. He doesn’t have to cheat. He doesn’t drink nor smoke. He is a role model. Valentine shakes Slater’s hand. He declares himself the greatest U.S. champion of all time. Rotundo comes out to confront Slater. He wants a rematch during the show. Slater refuses and walks away. Rotundo says Slater cheated, and he wants the belt back.

[Break]

Match 2
Non-Title: Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle [NWA Tag Champs] vs Dizzy Hogan & Frank Monte
Caudle plugs Andre the Giant is coming in soon. Slaughter slingshots Monte when he gets to high on a body splash. Kernodle hits a clothesline off the second rope, but Dizzy breaks up the pin. Slaughter tags in and finishes Monte with a Cobra Clutch. The heels continue the beat down. Jim Nelson makes the save and nails Slaughter from behind.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Slaughter & Kernodle
Slaughter is incensed. He doesn’t even realize who attacked him. Kernodle keeps saying “It’s Nelson.” That angers Slaughter even more.

[Break]

Match 3
Sweet Brown Sugar d. Ricky Harris
Sugar gets the pin following a high drop kick.

[VIDEO] Workout video of Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood
Montage video of running and weight lifting. Music is “Twilight Zone” by Golden Earring. 

-Local promos w/Big Bill Ward
Mentions cards 3/11/83 Hampton Coliseum; Slaughter, Kernodle, Weaver, Rotundo and Briscos at  3/04/83 at the Washington & Lee HS Gym in Montross, VA; Gene Anderson, Red Dog Lane, Sgt. Slaughter, Private Nelson, Mike George, Rotundo, Weaver, Briscos and others at 3/03/83 Colonial Heights HS Stadium in Colonial Heights, VA.
3/18/83 at the Richmond Coliseum. Battle royal. Gang & Slater & Humperdink vs. Steamboat & Valiant & McGraw. Flair defends NWA World title against Greg Valentine.
We go to taped comments from Valentine. He says he’s the number one contender. He’s coming full speed ahead.
Humperdink, Slater and Gang are in with Ward. They talk smack about McGraw.

[Break]

Match 4
Jack Brisco d. Red Dog Lane
Jerry Brisco and Paul Jones are on commentary. They continue to argue with each other. Jerry mentions Jack beat Lane in college. Jones says no one cares. Brisco scores a quick pin when Lane makes a cover too high and Brisco just reverses it for the pin.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Sgt. Slaughter & Don Kernodle; Paul Jones; Sir Oliver Humperdink and One Man Gang
Slaughter & Kernodle talk about their upcoming defense vs. Steamboat & Youngblood. Some mean words for Nelson as well. Jones warns Jack Brisco is setting his goals too low. He is holding the Mid-Atlantic title of Dory Funk, Jr. Humperdink talks about Jimmy Valiant’s conspicuous absence, as One Man Gang holds some blonde locks of hair.

[Break]

[PRE-TAPED INTERVIEW] w/Bill Ward: Ric Flair and Greg Valentine
Flair and Valentine are side-by-side, each in suits, and each holding their respective title belt. Flair says a title match is inevitable, and shakes Valentine’s hand and says let the best man win. Valentine has equally complimentary words for Flair. But, he said he would do anything possible to win.

-Local promos w/Big Bill Ward
Same towns as the first promo. We get comments from Steamboat, sick of the actions of One Mang Gang and Slater. Valiant struts in, with “Boy from New York City” in the background. Also, a trophy for the battle royal winner is in the back. We cut to comments from Slater, Gang and Humperdink. Slater isn’t impressed with Valiant.

[Break]

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Gary Hart
Mike Rotundo immediately confronts Hart. Says he doesn’t want any interference. Hart says let’s do the match. So, we have an impromptu match…

Match 5
NWA TV championship: Dick Slater [ch.] d. Mike Rotundo
Caudle says this is a TV title match. Hart sticks around on commentary. Hart says Great Kabuki is coming in soon. Short match, but Rotundo charges the corner and Slater gets a knee up. He pins Rotundo clean.

-Int. w/Bob Caudle: Jimmy Valiant & Bugsy McGraw; Mike Rotundo; Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood & Jim Nelson
Valiant and McGraw head out to “Boy from New York City.” We go to a clip last week where Slater, Valentine and Gang attack Valiant. Gang cuts a few locks of Valiant’s hair. Back to now. Valiant wants Humperdink in a loser leaves town match. Rotundo comes in. He’s not done challenging for the TV championship. Steamboat & Youngblood talk about Slaughter & Kernodle. Nelson joins them. He tells Slaughter if he wants his hat back, take it.

“So long for now!”

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

Results for the week, 2/21/83-2/27/83
(source: Clawmaster’s Archive via Sports and Wrestling blog posted by David Baker; “Wrestling” newsletter by Joe Shedlock)

Mon., 2/21/83 Hillsville, VA; Woodlawn Intermediate School
Abe Jacobs beat Masa Fuchi
Tommy Gilbert beat The Ninja
Dizzy Hogan & Johnny Weaver beat Gene Anderson & Red Dog Lane
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Sweet Brown Sugar
Greg Valentine beat Mike Rotundo 

Tue., 2/22/83 Kingstree, SC
Dizzy Hogan d. Gene Anderson
Mike Rotundo d. The Ninja
Jimmy Valiant d. One Man Gang
Don Kernodle & Sgt. Slaughter d. Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco

Tue., 2/22/83 Mount Olive, NC
Sweet Brown Sugar d. Pvt. Nelson
Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood d. Dory Funk, Jr. & Greg Valentine
Roddy Piper d. Dick Slater

Wed., 2/23/83 Charlotte, NC; WCPQ-TV studio
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling:
Greg Valentine beat Vinnie Valentino
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Frank Monte & Dizzy Hogan
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Ricky Harris
Jack Brisco beat Red Dog Lane
Dick Slater beat Mike Rotundo
World Wide Wrestling:
Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco beat Masa Fuchi & Ricky Harris
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Bill White
One Man Gang beat Vinnie Valentino
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Ben Alexander & Frank Monte
Greg Valentine beat Dizzy Hogan
Dick Slater beat Ron Rossi
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Ken Timbs
Thu., 2/24/83 Harrisonburg, VA; High School

Jimmy Valiant vs. One Man Gang
Jack Brisco vs. Dory Funk, Jr.
Plus other matches

Fri., 2/25/83 Charleston SC; County Hall
Ricky Steamboat beat Dick Slater
Sweet Brown Sugar beat Dory Funk, Jr. by DQ
Jay Youngblood beat The Ninja
Mike George beat Ken Timbs
Bill White beat Frank Monte

Sat., 2/26/83 Spartanburg, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Masa Fuchi beat Vinnie Valentino
Mike George beat Ricky Harris
Dizzy Hogan beat Jim Nelson
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Mike Rotundo & Jerry Brisco
Jimmy Valiant beat One Man Gang in a New York street fight match

Sun., 2/27/83 Winston-Salem, NC; Memorial Coliseum
Mike George beat Frank Monte
Johnny Weaver & Jim Nelson beat Gene Anderson & Red Dog Lane
Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood beat Dick Slater & One Man Gang
Sgt. Slaughter & Pvt. Kernodle beat Mike Rotundo & Jerry Brisco

Mon., 2/28/83 Greenville, SC; Memorial Auditorium
Masa Fuchi beat Vinnie Valentino
Dory Funk, Jr. beat Mike Rotundo
One Man Gang beat Johnny Weaver
Gene Anderson & Red Dog Lane beat Dizzy Hogan & Mike George
Greg Valentine beat Jimmy Valiant in a match with Roddy Piper as special referee
 

Gene Anderson Gets One Last Shot at the NWA Title (1981)

by Dick Bourne
Mid-Atlantic Gateway 

The great Gene Anderson, original founding member of the famous Anderson family in wrestling, was never known for his singles competition. He was primarily known for being part of a famous tag team known as the Minnesota Wrecking Crew with two different worked-brothers: Lars Anderson in the 1960s and Ole Anderson in the late 1960s through the early 1980s.

Photo courtesy of WrestlerWeekly.com
@wrestlerweekly on Twitter

Gene was the silent killer of the team, letting his braggadocious, loudmouth, younger brothers do all the talking. Les Thatcher once noted while calling an Anderson Brothers match on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling in 1975:

"As Teddy Roosevelt said, 'Talk softly and carry a big stick.' You'll hear very little out of Gene Anderson," Thatcher quipped. Gene Anderson carried a very big stick in the Minnesota Wrecking Crew.

The Andersons were no strangers to tag team championships. They held multiple regional and world championships over several decades. But it was somewhat of a rare occurrence when Gene Anderson received a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight singles title.

He received a few in the early 1970s against champion Dory Funk, Jr., in towns like Norfolk, Richmond, and Raleigh for promoter Joe Murnick, who more than others apparently saw value in putting Gene in the ring on top with Funk.

But after those shots in 1970 and 1971, Gene Anderson's days as a contender for the World Heavyweight singles title ended. To my knowledge, he never got a shot at Harley Race, Jack Brisco, or Terry Funk throughout the remainder of the 1970s. (Someone please let me know if I missed one.)

And then suddenly, almost exactly 10 years after his last NWA title shot on July 7, 1971, Gene gets one last shot at the title again, this time against new NWA champion (and long time rival in the tag team wars) Dusty Rhodes on July 11, 1981 in Spartanburg, SC.

Admittedly, on the surface the booking of this match doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Throughout his career, Gene was predominantly a tag team wrestler and never was in the mix for singles titles. Ole as an opponent made more sense, and indeed Ole was getting several shots at Rhodes during this time. Ole had the long running singles feud with Dusty, particularly in the Georgia Championship Wrestling terriotory. He could also deliver a better promo to promote the match.

Gene Anderson, Bob Caudle, and Ole Anderson

This Spartanburg card was a matinee show at 3:00 PM. Ole is not listed on it, so it's likely he was booked on another spot show town on a matinee card. I've not been able to find a record of any such show at this point. Both Ole and Gene reunited later that same evening in Charlotte for a defense of their NWA World tag team championship against Ricky Steamboat and Bad Bad Leroy Brown. Rhodes and the NWA title weren't on that Charlotte show, so it's safe to assume Rhodes defended the title in some other Crockett town that Saturday night,  but I've not come across any record of a title defense for Rhodes that night.

The Spartanburg newspaper reported the following day that Rhodes had defeated Anderson in the main event. In other action on that 7/11 Spartanburg card, Bad Bad Leroy Brown defeated the Iron Sheik. No other results were listed.

This would be Gene's last shot at the NWA championship. He never got another shot after that, at least none that we have ever come across. (As always, we welcome additional information.) He and Ole were also in their final run as NWA World tag team champions. I kind of like knowing this one last, odd singles title shot was against Dusty Rhodes, who had a long and storied rivalry and feud with the Andersons.

If you've hung around the Mid-Atlantic Gateway for very long, you know we are big fans of the Anderson Brothers. This is a nice little rare piece of Anderson lore to hang on to.


* * * * * * 

Thanks as always to Mark Easteridge for the newspaper clippings. Thanks to Scottie Richardson at @WrestlerWeekly for the poster image. 

Originally published on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway July 19, 2017. 

Republished in edited format in July 2018 and March 2022 on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway.