Mike Cline's MID-ATLANTIC GRAPPLIN' GREATS

Back to CROCKETT PARK in 1987

2012-02-01T14:20:00.001-08:00

DAVID CROCKETT tries his hand at pitching.

'Hands of Stone' RONNIE GARVIN anchors right field.

'Rock 'n' Roll'er RICKY MORTON at shortstop.

'Gorgeous' JIMMY GARVIN pitches as well.

A bit of offense from 'Rock 'n' Roll'er ROBERT GIBSON

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On a summer afternoon in 1987, in Charlotte, North Carolina, CROCKETT PARK was the scene of one of the most fascinating sports competitions in the Tarheel state's history.

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It wasn't Duke playing North Carolina, it wasn't the LA Dodgers against the SF Giants, not even the Boston Red Sox against the NY Yankees.

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On this day, before the advent of the CHARLOTTE HORNETS, the CAROLINA PANTHERS or the CHARLOTTE BOBCATS, the professional wrestlers of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS took on a team of employees of the Queen City's WSOC RADIO station for a softball charity fund raiser.

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Oh yes, if you're interested, the boys of JCP won the game 4 - 0.

TEXAS MEETS THE U.S.S.R.

2012-01-29T14:07:00.001-08:00

Two long-time JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS main eventers who could really set a town on fire were The Russian Bear IVAN KOLOFF and Number One PAUL JONES.

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But when the two squared off against one another, the flames were even hotter!

The Russian Bear knee drops Number One from the ring apron...

PAUL gets a bit of revenge...

KOLOFF has JONES in big trouble...

That's referee ANGELO MARTINELLI.

IVAN takes down PAUL for some more punishment.

It could be the beginning of the end for KOLOFF as JONES applies the airplane spin.

The arena looks like Charlotte's PARK CENTER.

VICTORS and VICTIMS

2012-01-27T14:45:00.000-08:00

MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLING fans witnessed the following shows over forty years ago...

LUTHER LINDSAY

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ROANOKE, VA. - 1968

ALDO BOGNI, BRONCHO LUBICH and HOMER O'DELL versus HAYSTACK CALHOUN, THE AMAZING ZUMA and LUTHER LINDSAY ended in a no contest.
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ROGER KIRBY beat JAN MADRID.
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ALEX MEDINA topped BULL RAMOS.
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DENNIS HALL and THE MUMMY wrestled to a draw.

THE AMAZING ZUMA

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ROANOKE, VA. - 1967

GEORGE BECKER, JOHNNY WEAVER and HAYSTACK CALHOUN topped ALDO BOGNI, BRONCHO LUBICH and HOMER O'DELL in six man action.

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PENNY BANNER defeated TAMMY JONES.
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TONY ROMANO lost to THE AMAZING ZUMA.
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THE MUMMY and PEDRO GODOY went to a draw.

BRONCHO LUBICH, MGR. HOMER O'DELL, ALDO BOGNI

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - 1967

THE MISSOURI MAULER lost to GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER in a handicap match.
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THE AMAZING ZUMA and NELSON ROYAL lost to ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH.
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THE INFERNOS with J.C. DYKES whipped JERRY LONDON and CHIEF LITTLE EAGLE.
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PAMPERO FIRPO demolished JESSE JAMES.

THE MISSOURI MAULER

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ROANOKE, VA. - 1967

THE INFERNOS with J.C. DYKES topped NELSON ROYAL and THE AMAZING ZUMA.
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THE MISSOURI MAULER bested CHIEF LITTLE EAGLE.
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LUTHER LINDSAY defeated PEDRO GODOY.
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BULL RAMOS and JERRY LONDON wrestled to a draw.

They Got Down and They Got Dirty...

2012-01-26T11:39:00.001-08:00

In all of the years that JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS was in existence, two of the very top heel teams who ever wrestled in the territory were THE ROYAL KANGAROOS and THE INFERNOS.

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These guys were rugged and down-right brutal in their matches.

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THE INFERNOS would kick their opponents in the head with a loaded boot or even throw fire in your face (just ask Les Thatcher about that).

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THE ROYAL KANGAROOS would beat their opponents to a bloody pulp, then attack them with boomerangs.

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Fans absolutley HATED these two teams. Fans also bought thousands of wrestling tickets to see them.

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THE ROYAL KANGAROOS and THE INFERNOS did what they were supposed to do night after night. They filled wrestling arenas.

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During their run in the MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLINA area, THE ROYAL KANGAROOS consisted of LORD JONATHAN BOYD and his cousin NORMAN FREDERICK CHARLES III. Sadly, BOYD has passed away, but CHARLES is still with us.

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The original twosome who formed THE INFERNOS was ROCKY SMITH and FRANKIE CAIN. Their manager, J.C. DYKES, and ROCKY are also gone, but FRANKIE survives.

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Today, I salute JCP greats NORMAN FREDERICK CHARLES III and FRANKIE CAIN and thank them for their dedication and sacrifices they gave to the business.

NORMAN FREDERICK CHARLES III as one of THE ROYAL KANGAROOS

NORMAN FREDERICK CHARLES III in 2009.

INFERNO FRANKIE CAIN and J.C. DYKES take exception to my blog.

A post-INFERNO CAIN as THE GREAT MEPHISTO.

FRANKIE CAIN in 2009.

One of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS' Finest was...

2012-01-24T05:39:00.000-08:00

Ricky Ferrara is at Nelson's mercy as Royal works on his opponent's arm.

A familiar sight in Virginia and the Carolinas...Nelson has his hand raised.

Cowboy Nelson Royal looks over his Moorseville, N.C. ranch.

Fellow wrestlers Tiger Conway Jr. and Ed Wiskoski (later Colonel DeBeers) enjoy one of the many charity rodeo events Nelson sponsored at his ranch.

He lived on a twenty acre tract of land in Mooresville, North Carolina and was one of the town's most outstanding citizens at the time.

He devoted countless hours of his life helping those less fortunate. He organized numerous benefit rodeo shows at his arena for many charitable organizations as well as putting together softball games and the like for community purposes.

Besides being a good citizen and a friend to many, the man in question was by profession a heavyweight wrestler named NELSON ROYAL.

Nelson began his in-ring career around 1961 and came to JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS a few years later. 'Nellie' actually wrestled as a heel upon his arrival (using the name SIR NELSON ROYAL) and often teamed with THE VIKING.

He soon 'switched' to babyface and his incredible JCP career took off. The front office teamed Nelson with the tall, lanky TEX McKENZIE, and they quickly became one of the territory's top 'good guy' teams, alongside BECKER & WEAVER and the FLYING SCOTTS.

After several years, TEX left the area, and ROYAL was then paired with JCP newcomer PAUL JONES. Nelson and Paul were as popular as Nelson and Tex, and the 'Royal Run' continued.

Later, Nelson teamed with greats such as Sandy Scott, Les Thatcher and The Amazing Zuma and worked as a single.

Royal 'feuded' with all of the 'heel' teams that made their way through JCP for nearly twenty years and was always a favorite of the fans, in and out of the ring.

CAROLINA CAT FIGHT

2012-01-23T05:39:00.001-08:00

BELLE STARR makes her point to the hot crowd.

BARBARA and BELLE go at it while referee ANGELO MARTINELLI looks on.

BELLE got a kick out of this.

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While just about every section of the country and every town in that section claims that they have the most rabid wrestling fans, few will argue the claim that the loudest and wildest of them all come from the Carolinas. What makes these fans so? Well, those wild and wooly matches that they are presented with week after week could be the reason.

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A recent match between 'Blonde Venus' BARBARA NICHOLS and the saucy brunette, BELLE STARR, was an occasion for rejoicing as these two gals just plain don't like each other, and when they climbed through the ropes to do battle, the sparks really flew.

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As actions and pictures speak louder than words - we will let the photos tell the story.

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From a 1969 WRESTLING REVUE article by Gene Gordon.

THE MAN WHO WORE WHITE

2012-01-21T07:45:00.000-08:00

He wrestled barefaced as TIM WOODS. He donned an all-white mask and wrestled as MR. WRESTLING. Either way, he sold a lot of wrestling tickets.

Ole Anderson about to taste a MR. WRESTLING elbow.

GEORGIA HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION

Gene Anderson takes a tumble from the masked man.

Ready for ring action.

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George Burrell Woodin began his wrestling career at the age of 29 using the ring name TIM WOODS. He was given the name 'MR. WRESTLING' by Nebraska promoter Joe Dusek. Woodin would go on to become a main event superstar in the Georgia, Florida, Texas and the MID-ATLANTIC territories.
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During his tenures with JIM CROCKETT PRMOTIONS, TIM WOODS had several title runs - - MID-ATLANTIC TV CHAMPION, U.S. HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, MID-ATLANTIC TAG TEAM CHAMPION (with Dino Bravo) and WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPION (also with Bravo).
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Tim (along with Ric Flair, Johnny Valentine, Bob Bruggers, David Crockett and pilot Michael Farkas) was aboard the 1975 Wilmington, N.C. bound aircraft that
came up short in landing and crashed. Pilot Farkas eventually died from injuries and Valentine never wrestled again. Woods and Bruggers were 'babyface' wrestlers, the rest were 'heels'. To protect the business from exposure, when arriving at the Wilmington hospital, Tim gave his real name and said he was a wrestling promoter. And to quash rumors among wrestling fans that Tim Woods had been on the plane with the 'heels', he was back in the ring within two weeks.
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Ric Flair later said in his book 'TO BE THE MAN', that Tim Woods was more than just MR. WRESTLING that day---he was the man who saved the wrestling business.
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A gentleman in and out of the ring, Tim Woods passed away November 30, 2002. It's difficult to imagine he's been gone nearly ten years.
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Just imagine what a hit Tim would have been if he could have attended the NWA FANFESTs.

A BLOODBATH IN GREENVILLE, S.C.

2012-01-19T13:32:00.001-08:00

Many MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLING fans always loved to witness a BATTLE OF THE BULLIES match, in which two 'bad guy' teams faced each other instead of the usual 'babyface' versus 'heel' encounter.
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I was one of those fans, and I was lucky enough to see quite a few.
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One I didn't get to witness took place in 1972 in Greenville, South Carolina. And to make the match even better, it was wrestled under TEXAS DEATH MATCH rules, meaning falls didn't count towards deciding a victor. The two teams battled until one couldn't answer the bell for the next fall. No time limit and no disqualification stipulations were also in place.

On this night, the combatants were the teams of GENE ANDERSON and ART NELSON versus RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON.

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Referee SAM 'LUCKY' ROBERTS was assigned to be the official. More likely than not, SAM was probably 'UNLUCKY' ROBERTS for this night.

RIP HAWK hammers away on GENE ANDERSON.

No participate left the ring unscathed that night in Greenville.

GENE GORDON witnessed the match and gave the following account..."I believe this TEXAS DEATH MATCH was the roughest, most vicious and bloody match I had seen in many years, and I go all the way back to the likes of COWBOY LUTTRELL, DANNY MCSHANE and STRANGLER BOB WAGNER. There was not a lot of wrestling. It was more like something out of the days of the Roman gladiators who battled to the death. No one paid any attention to any of the normal rules. The referee was knocked down several times and thrown to the floor once. He wanted to stop the match but couldn't under the stipulations. All four wrestlers looked like they had been run through a sausage grinder. They were so exhausted they could hardly leave the ring at the end. I saw one woman faint and a few others left in disgust, unable to stand the brutality and gore. I know I'll never forget it."

For the record, the match was won by HAWK and HANSON, although they certainly didn't look like winners at the end.

I WAS NEVER AN OPTIMIST...

2012-01-18T13:20:00.000-08:00

...however, I was indebted to the optimists, the SALISBURY, N.C. OPTIMIST CLUB, that is, because in the Spring and Summer of 1976, the club, to raise money for their projects, sponsored JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS / MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING in the city of Salisbury, N.C. (where I live).

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Not once...not twice...but THREE times within a six month period.

ANGELO MOSCA

March 18, 1976 - SALISBURY POST

WAHOO MCDANIEL
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A crowd nearing twelve hundred witnessed 'Chief' WAHOO MCDANIEL pin big ANGELO MOSCA in the main event last night at CATAWBA COLLEGE's GOODMAN GYMNASIUM. The professional wrestling show was sponsored by the SALISBURY OPTIMIST CLUB. Long-time favorite JOHNNY WEAVER and his partner TIGER CONWAY JR. topped JACK EVANS and BILL WHITE in the evening's tag team contest. GEORGE HARRIS, known as 'Two Ton', belly-splashed a much-smaller GREG PETERSON to win his match, and veteran SWEDE HANSON used a neck breaker to subdue BILL HOWARD. OPTIMIST CLUB officials announced they were very pleased with attendance and would be negotiating to bring wrestling back to SALISBURY very soon.

May 8, 1976 - SALISBURY POST

BLACKJACK MULLIGAN

May 9, 1976 - SALISBURY POST

AUGUST 3, 1976 - SALISBURY POST

August 4, 1976 - SALISBURY POST

May 6, 1976 - SALISBURY POST

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The wrestler referred to as Red Bastian, was in fact, Red Bastien.

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Three great evenings of JCP in my home town, and I had to drive only ten miles round trip for each show. Considering the many, many miles I drove throughout the years to see MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING, this was a welcome change.

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And for the record, I was never an OPTIMIST. I was a CIVITAN. We sold fruitcake.

CHILLIN' WITH HAWK AND HANSON

2012-01-17T08:10:00.000-08:00

First, they work on their tans...

Then, it's off to the links...

"Swede, I wish you would hit Becker and Weaver as hard as you hit that last drive."

Time for a bit of refreshment...

Perhaps, 'politically incorrect' by today's standards, but it was all in fun.

Anyone who ever saw RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON wrestle knows that when the rugged duo was in the ring, it was all business. Just ask their opponents.

But even JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS' "BLONDE BOMBERS" needed some 'down time' away from the squared circle.

Time to relax, refocus, and just have a good time.

Here's how RIP and SWEDE spent their time away from the arenas.

NUMBER ONE

2012-01-14T14:06:00.001-08:00

PAUL JONES in MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING

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He could make us love him when we were supposed to love him...

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And he could make us loathe him when we were supposed to loathe him...

These ladies appear to love him.

PAUL, as he looked, when first coming to JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS in the late 1960s.

Ready for a night on the town.

Always business in the ring, whether as a babyface or heel.

PAUL battles JERRY BRISCO.

In his managing days with THE ASSASSINS.

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In his career with JCP, PAUL JONES did it all. He teamed regularly with the likes of NELSON ROYAL, WAHOO MCDANIEL, RICKY STEAMBOAT, BARON VON RASCHKE, THE MASKED SUPERSTAR and GREG VALENTINE, and had heated feuds with all of the same (except ROYAL).

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He held virtually every championship belt that MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING had to offer.

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He took several NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONs to the limit.

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His run as a heel manager was just as productive as far as ticket sales were concerned. PAUL's program involving JIMMY VALIANT lasted for several years.

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Most JCP fans probably remember PAUL's turning on RICKY STEAMBOAT (although to this day, PAUL insists it was the other way around), the incredible tag battles when he teamed with WAHOO against GENE and OLE ANDERSON, and battling a much larger BLACKJACK MULLIGAN (and making it totally believeable).

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And what about pinning medals of bravery on the BARON (and a toupee)?

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So many MID-ATLANTIC memories of PAUL JONES.

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Thanks, MR. NUMBER ONE.

GEORGE and SANDY - THE FLYING SCOTTS

2012-01-14T03:56:00.000-08:00

Today I salute one of the top tag teams who ever worked for JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS. I refer to the fabulous GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT, known in the business as THE FLYING SCOTTS.

GEORGE slams BRONCHO LUBICH.

SANDY applies the 'abdominal stretch' to LUBICH.
It was a bad night for BRONCHO.

Here SANDY gives THE MISSOURI MAULER a free chiropractic adjustment.

At home, GEORGE poses with his son, GEORGE JR. and family pet Sam.

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Next to BECKER and WEAVER, the SCOTTS were the top 'babyface' team in the MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLING area during the 1960s. In fact, GEORGE and SANDY were already world reknown before ever coming to JCP in 1957, nearly five years before BECKER and WEAVER ever got together.
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In 1967, Gene Gordon said that 'the SCOTT brothers have done more for tag team wrestling than the Smith brothers have done for cough drops. Jumpin' GEORGE and Slammin' SANDY have been flattening the best in the business for the past ten years like a pair of Mack trucks driving over balloons.'
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It was at Central High School in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, that the wrestling bug first bit GEORGE. Already an ice hockey and football player, he was asked to work out with the wrestling team one day, and that workout changed his life. He turned professional in 1949.
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It wasn't until five years later, in 1954, that younger brother SANDY joined his brother in the wrestling ring. At this point, they began wrestling all over the world, holding tag team championships in numerous countries. Then in 1957, they landed in CROCKETT country for the first time.
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GEORGE stated, in a 1967 interview, that LOU THESZ was the best he personally ever met in the ring, with GENE KINISKI a close second. In terms of tag teams, SANDY credits BRUTE BERNARD and SKULL MURPHY as the most rugged team he and GEORGE ever butted heads with, with ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH right behind.
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Ironically, the very first live wrestling I ever attended at Charlotte's PARK CENTER (around 1965) was headlined with GEORGE and SANDY challenging BOGNI and LUBICH for the SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP, then held by the 'heels'.
The champions took the first fall, the challengers evened the match winning the second fall. The match ended in a sixty-minute Broadway.
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Disappointed that the good guys did not win the titles that night, we consoled ourselves by making a stop on the way home at the KRISPY KREME on Independence Boulevard.

SANDY has BRONCHO LUBICH wishing he had stayed at home.

GEORGE acknowledges the crowd after an introduction.

One of wrestling's ALL-TIME great tag teams.

SANDY after hanging up his tights.

LES THATCHER SPEAKS OUT ON "BURNING" ISSUES...

2012-01-12T02:51:00.000-08:00

PART FOUR - LES GETS SATISFACTION

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There was no wrestling in CHARLOTTE, N.C. on December 18th, 1967 as JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS was on its CHRISTMAS break.
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Therefore, the WBTV-CHARLOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING TV program which aired on Saturday, December 16th included the announcement of the annual WRESTLING card which would be held at the CHARLOTTE COLISEUM on CHRISTMAS night. This holiday card was always one of the top shows of the year and brought attention to the CHARLOTTE NEWS EMPTY STOCKING FUND, a charity to provide for the needy during the holidays. (The CHARLOTTE NEWS was, at the time, the evening newspaper of the Queen City, the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER was and still is the morning paper.)

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Headlining the big holiday card was the match many had been hoping for...and none more than young LES THATCHER. The match would feature LES teaming with GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER opposing THE INFERNOS and, in the ring as a participant, manager J.C. DYKES in SIX MAN action.

LES went home to Ohio for a few days during his holiday break. Returning back to CHARLOTTE the day of the match, he was picked up at the airport by his good friend and wrestling 'cousin', ROGER KIRBY.

ROGER KIRBY

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During the drive to his apartment, LES confided to KIRBY that he was nervous about the upcoming match, now just hours away. Nervous not because of his participation in the match, but rather because he feared if the crowd wasn't a good one, he would be blamed for the lower-than-expected attendance. THATCHER had worked main events while in Florida, but never in a building as large as the CHARLOTTE COLISEUM. And not on a wrestling card of this magnitude.

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As it turned out, he need not have worried. Before the show started, while in the dressing room, JCP employee GEORGE HARBEN came in and said, "They're really pouring in."

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At the end of the evening, the card had drawn the largest CHRISTMAS house for WRESTLING in CHARLOTTE to that time.

THE INFERNOS and DYKES await BECKER, WEAVER and THATCHER's ring entrance.

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Finally, a chance for LES to even the score with the men who had injured him so badly. And here he was...teaming with the company's top twosome against a 'heel' team that drew big money wherever they worked.

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Things went well for the 'good guys' that CHRISTMAS night. After splitting the first two falls, BECKER, WEAVER and THATCHER had DYKES a bloody mess when his men decided it was way too hot, even for INFERNOS. They grabbed their bludgeoned leader and headed for their dressing room, but before their getaway, one of the hooded 'heels' lost a most precious possession...his mask. Although his identity was concealed, this was the only instance I am aware that one of THE INFERNOS was unmasked while in the MID-ATLANTIC territory.

Referee SAM 'LUCKY' ROBERTS raises the hands of BECKER, WEAVER and THATCHER after DYKES and THE INFERNOS deserted the ring. Look closely at THATCHER's right hand and you'll see a just-removed INFERNO mask, quite a holiday stocking stuffer.

Article which appeared in the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, December 26th.

The LIKE AND DISLIKES column which appeared in the CHARLOTTE PARK CENTER wrestling program the week after the CHRISTMAS night match.

click on image to enlarge

And LES THATCHER's response in the same program.

click on image to enlarge
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A four-month program came to a close CHRISTMAS night of 1967. This 'feud' was a great example of how to create, build and sell a program to the fans that was both believeable as well as entertaining (something sorely lacking in today's product).
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And as LES has said, "It was one of the highlights of my entire career."

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My deepest thanks to my very good friends DICK BOURNE of the MID-ATLANTIC GATEWAY and CARROLL HALL of WRESTLING MEMORIES for their research assistance and to a true gentleman, LES THATCHER, for sharing his personal reflections on this wonderful look back to some great days of the wrestling business.

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Illustrations from wrestling programs courtesy of DICK BOURNE.
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Photographs of LES THATCHER from his personal collection and used with his permission.

LES THATCHER SPEAKS OUT ON "BURNING" ISSUES...

2012-01-11T06:31:00.000-08:00

PART THREE - THE PROGRAM CONTINUES

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Safely back in his apartment, LES THATCHER kept a low profile for several days.

He did his own facial make-up to show the effects of the 'burning'. LES shaved off his left eyebrow, then used a coarse Turkish towel to rub up the skin around his eye to give it an irritated look. He applied what is known as 'New Skin' to the area to give his injured area a wrinkled effect, then painted the area with merbromin (household name: mercurochrome) and tinted Vicks Vapor Rub which gave an oozing appearance.

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Then it was on to his bookings. For the time being, most would be in the general CHARLOTTE TV area as this was the target area for the 'burn' program. LES didn't wrestle for a couple of weeks, but instead appeared in all of his scheduled cities going into the ring, showing his burned face and explaining how the injury had occurred. (Before each appearance, 'BIG' JIM CROCKETT personally instructed LES to what degree he was to reduce the size of the 'burn', giving the illusion that the injury was heeling.)
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After a week or two, every wrestling fan in the area was aware of the heated battle that had been touched off.

LES then appeared on the WBTV-CHARLOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING program hosted by BIG BILL WARD. During his interview with WARD (the interviews were always conducted in front of the ring apron), THE INFERNOS and DYKES were in the ring awaiting their match. At some point, while he was being questioned, LES was assaulted by one of the masked men (LES believes FRANKIE CAIN), who ripped at his injured face, causing THATCHER extreme pain and discomfort, thus (and pardon the pun) adding fuel to the fire. GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER came rushing to LES' aid, preventing even more damage.

click on image to enlarge

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During their tenure with JCP, J.C. DYKES often wrote a column in the weekly CHARLOTTE wrestling program which was handed out (or sold--- I can't recall which) entitled LIKES AND DISLIKES BY J.C. DYKES. During the time frame after LES was burned, a number of the DYKES articles were directed at young THATCHER for concocting such a ridiculous "lie" that J.C. had hit him with a fireball.

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Later in the mid-70s, LES wrote an editorial in each issue of MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLING MAGAZINE entitled WRESTLER'S EYE VIEW. LES still uses that trademark to this day. But even before his editorials of the 1970s, LES originated that banner during this INFERNOS program. In a later-to-come 60 MINUTES POINT / COUNTERPOINT style, LES was given a rebuttal column in the programs giving his side of the 'burning" incident. (One will appear in tomorrow's wrap-up entry of this story.)

LES chases one of THE INFERNOS during a CHARLOTTE PARK CENTER encounter.

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click to enlarge image

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NEXT...the final chapter...LES THATCHER GETS SATISFACTION

LES THATCHER SPEAKS OUT ON "BURNING" ISSUES...

2012-01-10T03:03:00.000-08:00

PART TWO - WHAT THE PUBLIC DIDN'T SEE

LES THATCHER related to me that those participating in the CHARLOTTE COLISEUM main event of September 4, 1967 met at the CROCKETT office on Morehead Street that same morning. Those present included LES, GEORGE BECKER (also the booker at the time), JOHNNY WEAVER, J.C. DYKES, both of THE INFERNOS (FRANKIE CAIN and ROCKY SMITH), GEORGE HARBEN, and 'BIG' JIM CROCKETT himself.

'BIG' JIM instructed HARBEN to make sure that by the time the main event started that evening, that all referees working the show (except ANGELO MARTINELLI, who was assigned the main event) were to be out of the building. This way no one would spot any other refs hanging around, thus spoiling credibility to HARBEN's ringside plea for LES to come to the ring to officiate the remainder of the match.
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CROCKETT told LES to wear his very best suit and to be visible at the back of the COLISEUM arena, so word would reach LES to come to the ring when HARBEN called for him. "If your clothes get damaged or ruined during the match, I'll pay to replace them", CROCKETT would say.

Near the end of the first fall, referee MARTINELLI would be knocked down, injured, but able to count to three in favor of THE INFERNOS.
HARBEN would go to ANGELO's aid. Determining that the official could not continue, MARTINELLI would be helped to the dressing room. With no other ref available, HARBEN (without the use of a microphone) would call out for LES to come to the ring. The fans would actually become involved in the proceedings by relaying the message back to THATCHER, who then went to the ring and received instructions from HARBEN.

THATCHER would referee the second and third falls of the match, amidst the protests of DYKES and his two men. GEORGE and JOHNNY would even the match, winning the second fall. WEAVER would 'schoolboy' one of THE INFERNOS for the third fall victory. LES would raise GEORGE and JOHNNY's hands, who would then leave the ring and start for the dressing room.
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LES was to drop back a bit, so before he could leave the ring, he would be accosted by the sore losers. A little scuffle would ensue climaxing with DYKES igniting THATCHER's face with a fireball. LES would hit the mat, screaming in pain, and BECKER and WEAVER would jump back into the ring. GEORGE was to run off the 'heels' (their dastardly deed fulfilled), and WEAVER (who had conveniently worn a towel around his neck for the match) would wrap it around the burnt younster's face and help him back to the dressing room.

RUDY KAY

---

Once inside the dressing room, LES wouldn't even take the time to change his clothes. He would cover his head and slip out the back of the COLISEUM, where RUDY KAY would be waiting in his automobile. LES would slouch down on the floorboard of the back seat, and RUDY was to quickly drive LES home to the THATCHER apartment.
---
One more detail to cover---the hired ambulance drivers who would be at the COLISEUM in case they would really be needed during the evening. WEAVER was assigned the task of telling the ambulance guys that THATCHER had a 'phobia' with ambulances, and that GEORGE and JOHNNY would take LES to the hospital themselves, thus relieving the medics of participating. The medical personnel could not be involved, in order to 'protect the business'.
---
"That's how meticulous the program was laid out...every detail was taken care of," LES said.

---

NEXT...PART THREE - SELLING THE PROGRAM

LES THATCHER SPEAKS OUT ON "BURNING" ISSUES...

2012-01-09T05:34:00.000-08:00

PART ONE - WHAT THE PUBLIC SAW

"It was one of the highlights of my entire career."

---

GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER were the top 'babyface' team in JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS for most of the 1960s.
---
J.C. DYKES and THE INFERNOS, on the flipside, were one of the top 'heel' teams during the late1960s.
---
And, somehow, not by sheer happenings or fate, a twenty-seven year-old wrestler, who had recently been named the ROOKIE OF THE YEAR while working in the NWA Florida territory, found himself in the middle of a top JCP wrestling program that stretched over a nearly four month time frame.
---
This young man was LES THATCHER.

The year was 1967. It was the annual LABOR DAY WRESTLING card in CHARLOTTE, N.C., one of but a handful of shows held each year at the original CHARLOTTE COLISEUM on Independence Boulevard.

GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER

THE INFERNOS with J.C. DYKES
---
The main event that night featured BECKER and WEAVER going against THE INFERNOS, managed by J.C. DYKES. These two teams had a violent history, so the fans expected this match to be something special.
---
Folks who remember this bitter rivalry will recall that a central issue with THE INFERNOS was the 'loaded boot' that one of them wore. Time after time, the boot would come into play in their matches with the end result often being their opponents being kicked into oblivion, giving the masked men many victories.
---
BECKER and WEAVER had vowed to remedy this problem, themselves being previous victims of the boot. And, indeed, they did take action. On the night of July 1, 1967, in WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (and maybe in other towns as well), GEORGE and JOHNNY were successful in removing the boot from the foot of THE INFERNO who wore it. Each subsequent time the heroes had faced DYKES and his men, BECKER had worn the boot himself as an equalizer.
---
For more of the WINSTON-SALEM incident, you can read CARROLL HALL's personal account of the evening by going here:
http://www.wrestlingmemories.com/specialfeatures.html
---
The CHARLOTTE match started out as the fans had expected, which each team taking it to the other. Near the end of the first fall, referee ANGELO MARTINELLI was knocked down and shaken up, but able to make the count on the 'good guys', giving THE INFERNOS a one fall advantage.
---
ANGELO called for assistance. He couldn't continue. JCP employee GEORGE HARBEN went to the ring and rendered assistance to the injured MARTINELLI. After calling to the back for a replacement official, HARBEN learned that the other referees who had worked the card had already left the building.
---
LES THATCHER had already wrestled his match earlier and had already showered and changed to his street clothes. Seeing LES standing near the back of the arena, HARBEN signaled for THATCHER to come to the ring. After a brief discussion, LES removed his suit jacket and took over as the official for the remainder of the match.
---
Naturally, DYKES and THE INFERNOS protested, "He's a friend of BECKER and WEAVER. There's no way we will get a fair shake." The rantings and ravings fell on unsympathetic ears. THATCHER signaled for the bell, and the second fall began.
---
GEORGE and JOHNNY took fall number two, squaring the match.
---
The deciding fall immediately became hot and heavy. The end came quickly when one of the hooded heavies gave LES a shove. THATCHER got in the masked man's face, reminding him he was an official and was not to be touched. At this point, WEAVER 'schoolboyed' THE INFERNO, LES counted to three, and the match was over.

LES raised BECKER and WEAVER's hands in victory. GEORGE and JOHNNY left the ring, with LES closely behind them. But THATCHER was stopped by the sore losers who were claiming LES stole the match from them. A bit of a rhubard started, then suddenly THE INFERNOS grabbed the substitute referee, and J.C. DYKES incinerated THATCHER's face with a fireball.
---
LES hit the mat, rolling around, screaming in anguish. GEORGE and JOHNNY ran back into the ring, DYKES and THE INFERNOS ran out of the ring (their damage had been done). WEAVER wrapped a towel around THATCHER's face, and he and BECKER got LES back to the dressing room.
---
Only time would tell how badly LES was injured and how long he would be out of action.
---
NEXT...PART TWO - WHAT THE PUBLIC DIDN'T SEE

---

(Photos featuring LES THATCHER are from his personal collection and used with his permission.)

LIKES and DISLIKES by J.C. DYKES

2012-01-08T09:33:00.000-08:00

A bloodied WEAVER after being kicked with the loaded boot of THE INFERNO.

Happy 'Birthday Suit' to you, J.C. DYKES

WEAVER takes a tumble to the floor.

A battered INFERNO receives medical care.

---

During the JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS terror tenure of J.C DYKES and THE INFERNOS, the weekly wrestling souvenir program at JCP arenas often contained articles written by the red-headed manager in which he expressed his personal opinions of the competition as it pertained to his blue-masked duo.

Without any doubt, the two wrestlers he despised the most were GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER, then the top 'babyface' team in MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLING.

THE INFERNOS battled BECKER and WEAVER all over the JCP territory in one of the 'hottest' feuds in 1960's pro wrestling history.

One evening, after a jam-packed house at Charlotte's PARK CENTER, Gene Gordon was able to corner DYKES and ask him a few questions.

J.C. had been shooting off his mouth about what his boys would do to that 'old bum' and his 'half-witted partner'. The match that night was thrown out by the referee for uncontrollable wildness. 'We beat them to a pulp tonight, and only the prejudiced referee saved their skins. They're as yellow as can be and will probably never sign to wrestle us again."

'BECKER is a low life, he eats berries and bugs,' shouted DYKES. 'As far as Weaver, he's on the silly side."

GEORGE and JOHNNY, however, rushed to the promoter, demanding their schedules be changed so that they could get THE INFERNOS back in the ring right away. 'That mouth without a brain and those two cowards who are afraid to let the public see their ugly faces, are in for a real surprise,' countered BECKER.

The following Monday night, the rematch took place, again at PARK CENTER. And again, the house was packed to see THE INFERNOS and DYKES 'get their's'.

WEAVER recorded the first fall, putting one of the masked men in slumberland from his trademark 'sleeper' hold. DYKES yelled and screamed to the official that JOHNNY had choked his man unto he passed out. The referee was not impressed by J.C.'s protest.

The second fall started with a very groggy INFERNO trying to stay on his feet, still reeling from the 'sleeper'. But then DYKES distracted the referee while the other INFERNO kicked WEAVER square in the head with the 'loaded boot' for the pin.

Fans rushed handkerchiefs and tissue to BECKER to help stop the bleeding of his partner. One fan offered his shirt.

The match was even.

The bell rang for the deciding fall. WEAVER barely answered the bell, his face a Gordon Solie 'crimson mask'. But he managed to continue, finally making a tag to BECKER, who came in like a madman. He floored both INFERNOS, knocking one out to the floor. GEORGE followed his rival outside the ring, ran the 'loaded boot' masked man into the ring post. Soon, this INFERNO was as bloody as WEAVER.

JOHNNY had cornered the other INFERNO and had the blue mask about half off when DYKES jumped into the fray. Approaching WEAVER (from behind, of course) with his metal canteen, his path was cut off by BECKER who battered DYKES until he could barely stand.

BECKER and WEAVER weren't able to remove a mask that night, but maybe they did one better. They removed J.C.'s clothes almost down to his 'birthday suit'. At this point, he blew his whistle, and a half-nude manager and his masked men (one a bloody pulp) set sail for the dressing room, forfeiting the match on a countout.

On a tirade in the dressing room, while his bloodied INFERNO received medical attention, DYKES began his ranting again, 'We will get BECKER and WEAVER if it takes a lifetime. That bug-eating BECKER and mule ears WEAVER have disgraced, humiliated and shamed my INFERNOS and me. Can you image two grownup men like these two dolts tearing my clothes off out there in front of thousands of people? If they want to act like children, they should both be placed in reform school with the other dirty-minded brats! When we first came to JCP, BECKER took off and went into hiding in the mountains somewhere until WEAVER sent out a posse to bring him back. WEAVER told BECKER a lie when he came back. He said that one of my INFERNOS burned his face with a fireball or something ridiculous like that. That is not what made the scar on old mule ear's face. Sailor Art Thomas dropped WEAVER on his head carrying him out of the ring after we beat the two of them one night. They're both no-good liars, and we'll send them into retirement before we leave the Carolinas. That's a promise.'

Although the two teams battled many more times, that promise went unfulfilled.

THE "YOUNG LIONS" OF MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING

2012-01-07T08:32:00.001-08:00

Watching the MID-ATLANTIC / WIDE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING TV shows each week, viewers became accustomed to hearing specific 'catch-phrases' on a regular basis...

---

There was BOB CAUDLE's curtain line..."So long for now."

---

There was JOHNNY WEAVER's singing..."Turn Out the Lights."

---

And there was DAVID CROCKETT's weekly reference to the "Young Lions" of professional wrestling.

---

This was a reference to a number of young wrestlers who primarily jobbed for the main eventers for TV matches, or in plain terms, lost week after week. But that was their purpose.

---

Most of these youngsters, however, worked very well and gave good matches, even though viewers generally knew they wouldn't win.

---

Some of these guys went on to become big stars in the business, either for JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS, or other wrestling organizations.

---

Today, these men absorb the spotlight...

ED WISKOSKI

(born 1945)

Became a big star as Colonel DeBeers in the AWA

JAY YOUNGBLOOD

(STEVEN ROMERO 1955-1985)

Teamed with RICKY STEAMBOAT to become one of JCP's all-time popular tag teams.

TERRY SAWYER

(Norfolk, Va. native - was a Virginia high school State Wrestling Champion)

DEWEY ROBERTSON
(BYRON JAMES JOHN ROBERTSON 1939-2007)
Very successful as THE MISSING LINK in MID-SOUTH WRESTLING and WORLD CLASS WRESTLING.
MID-ATLANTIC TAG TEAM CHAMPION twice, once with JOHNNY WEAVER and once with GEORGE WELLS.

DOUG SOMERS
(first wrestled in 1971)
Always a great worker, either in JCP or later as a top AWA star.

BILL HOWARD
(I know little about his career away from JCP, but always enjoyed his work in the MID-ATLANTIC territory.)

ROCK HUNTER...HUMAN OR VAMPIRE

2012-01-06T06:08:00.000-08:00

A vampire is a fictional being...or is it.

---

MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLING fans might have disagreed back in 1972. Some might have been convinced there was a vampire-like wrestler in JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS who got as much pleasure drawing blood from his opponents as Count Dracula himself.

---

The wrestler was ROCK HUNTER.

---

MR. HUNTER enjoyed making two men in JCP suffer more than any others...KLONDIKE BILL and NELSON ROYAL.

---

"KLONDIKE 'FATSO' BILL and 'COWGIRL' NELSON are my two favorite victims," said HUNTER (not me). "Why? Because they're the easiest. They don't have a brain between them. Wrestling them is like having a night off."

---

Fans (including me) would disagreed. I loved BILL and NELLIE.

---

ROCK would continue boasting, "I'd wrestle them both in a handicap match, but none of the promoters would allow it...I had to get a partner, so I picked my friend MATTI SUZUKI. We got our match in Asheville, N.C."

NELSON and KLONDIKE before the start of the Asheville, N.C. match.

"SUZUKI took care of the Alaskan goof, so I could concentrate on ROYAL, my victim of the evening. I beat on him until he could no longer stand."...ROCK HUNTER

"Then I applied my 'squeeze' hold on that Texas noggin'. I squeezed and squeezed until..."

"his head split open like a melon. Oh, it was beautiful. That cowgirl never knew what hit him."

Maybe ROCK HUNTER couldn't count that night, but the referee could. And when ROCK refused to break his 'squeeze' hold at five, he and partner SUZUKI were disqualified, and KLONDIKE BILL and NELSON ROYAL were the winners that Asheville night.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE WRESTLING BALL GAME

2012-01-05T06:57:00.001-08:00

On a summer afternoon in 1987, in Charlotte, North Carolina, CROCKETT PARK was the scene of one of the most fascinating sports competitions in the Tarheel state's history.

It wasn't Duke playing North Carolina, it wasn't the LA Dodgers against the SF Giants, not even the Boston Red Sox against the NY Yankees.

On this day, before the birth of the CHARLOTTE HORNETS, the CAROLINA PANTHERS or the CHARLOTTE BOBCATS, the professional wrestlers of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS took on a team of employees of the Queen City's WSOC RADIO station for a softball charity fund raiser.

'The Russian Nightmare' NIKITA KOLOFF plays his left field postion. (It is rumored that Nikita tried to 'sickle' the home plate umpire on a disputed called third strike.)

Rock 'n' Roll Expresser RICKY MORTON makes a great play at shortstop.

'Hands of Stone' RONNIE GARVIN warms up to pitch for JCP.

BARRY WINDHAM takes his cuts at the plate.

A look into the MID-ATLANTIC dugout (how many can you name?)

Oh yes, if you're interested, the boys of JCP won the game 4 - 0.

THE SUPER D IN JCP

2012-01-05T06:52:00.001-08:00

One of the epic battles between the masked villain and Swede Hanson

Swede not faring too well at this point.

Super D clamps 'the claw' on Swede's noggin'.

Sonny King feels the wrath of the Super Destroyer

The year was 1973. JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS brought back one of their most popular wrestlers, GEORGE SCOTT, not as a ring competitor, but rather as head booker. One of Scott's priorities was to shift emphasis from tag team competition to singles matches.

To accomplish this, Scott brought in a couple of top heels he felt could achieve the transition. One was Johnny Valentine. The other, a rugged, vicious man in a mask, known in many territories as THE SPOILER.

However, in MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING rings, he would be known as THE SUPER DESTROYER.

Irregardless of his in-ring monocle, the man who wore the mask and pulverized his opponents was the 6' 4", 270 pound Canadian named DON JARDINE (1940-2006). Already in the pro wrestling business for nearly twenty years, Jardine was known as an incredibly agile worker for such a big man, known for 'walking the ropes' before lowering the boom on his competition. His ring style was rough and tough and, being the consumate 'heel', rulebreaking was a big part of his m.o.

THE SUPER DESTROYER rose to main event level in JCP almost immediately, going against such greats as Johnny Weaver, Bearcat Wright, Wahoo McDaniel, Paul Jones, Rufus R. Jones and Sonny King.

A major program involving THE SUPER DESTROYER would be with a hooded 'babyface' who called himself THE AVENGER. The battle between these two escalated to a MASK VERSUS MASK battle in which the loser would reveal his identity. I witnessed the Greensboro, N.C. encounter between these two (seems like it was on Thanksgiving night) in which THE AVENGER was eventually pinned and revealed to be none other than Reggie Parks. This same type match was probably held in other cities as well.

However, the program with THE SUPER DESTROYER I enjoyed the most was his incredible matches with SWEDE HANSON. The long-time JCP heel, big SWEDE was now a single, as partner RIP HAWK had bolted to the newly-formed IWA. Swede joined forces with SUPER D as a new tag team, but things went sideways between the two, with the masked man humiliating Hanson after a defeat. From this point on, Swede turned 'babyface' and went after his ex-partner.

The two went from town-to-town in the MID-ATLANTIC territory fighting each other in mostly bloody battles. It would be Swede's swan song as a JCP main eventer. After this program, Hanson would finish his career as a mid-card wrestler, splitting his time between JCP and the WWF.

THE SUPER DESTROYER would continue on in JCP for a while, later leaving abruptly over 'corporate issues', with JCP announcing on its weekly wrestling programs he had been unmasked and showing Jardine's photograph without the mask.

Some thought this was not the most professional way to end things between the company and the employee, but we see things like this in the corporate world everyday, don't we?

THANKSGIVING WRESTLING IN CHARLOTTE

2011-11-21T12:42:00.001-08:00

November 21, 1966

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

45 Years Ago

The Charlotte Observer reported 5460 fans in attendance, and I was one of them, sometimes sitting in my ringside seat.

It was a BIG night of wrestling.

The card started like most of all of them. LUTHER LINDSAY facing PEDRO GODOY in a yawner, the kind of match you want to end so you can get closer to the main events. LUTHER won and most of us didn't care. We wouldn't have cared if PEDRO had won either.

Things started to pick up in the next match when favorite NELSON ROYAL squared off against GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS'. Most everyone loved NELLIE and most everyone hated 'TWO TON' but I loved the big guy because his matches were always entertaining. 'TWO TON' always got the most out of the fans because he was a master at 'working' a crowd. I can't remember what naughty he pulled, but the match went to NELLIE on a DQ. But 'TWO TON' would be back later as he was also manager of the MASKED RED DEMONS.

THE AMAZING ZUMA or ARGENTINA ZUMA, whichever you prefer, took the toll of HENRY VON STROHEIM, one-half of a pseudo-main event German heel team. I believe HENRY (can I call him Hank?) was probably getting ready to leave the area, because his partner KURT was no where to be found that night. Maybe he was back at the hotel packing.

The little people were up next in a tag match. I usually enjoyed the novelty of 'Midget Matches' (we can't say that anymore, ya know) for about five minutes, then it was time to move on. On this night, LITTLE BEAVER and SONNY BOY CASSIDY pinned SKY LOW LOW and BILLY THE KID (not the real one). I'd love to know how many times in their careers that BEAVER and LOW LOW worked one another. I'm sure it was in the thousands.

Now, it was time to get serious.

Two of the all-time heel combos in JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS history were to do battle. RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON versus ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH with, of course, their snake-like manager, HOMER O'DELL.

On this night, the crowd was behind the BLONDE BOMBERS all the way. I can't recall which team won which fall, but they were even at one apiece. The third fall found BOGNI & LUBICH beating RIP to a pulp. HAWK was thrown over the top rope to the cement floor (and on MY side of the ring). O'DELL, welding that dreaded cane, cracked 'The Profile' on the noggin' and before HAWK could get to his feet, it looked as if he had lost three gallons of the red stuff.

He managed to crawl back into the ring, but it looked like it was R.I.P. for R-I-P. After teasing all of us for a few more minutes with 'not quite a tag,' HAWK found HANSON's hand, made contact, and in came the big SWEDE. The crowd was hysterical!

SWEDE could have taken on the 300 Spartans at this point. He beat ALDO and BRONCHO at will, then grabbed O'DELL on the apron and 'welcomed' him into the ring via the top rope. Just as the SWEDE is about to ruin the creases in HOMER's tuxedo, he was double-attacked by O'DELL's cronies. HANSON got his hands on the cane and broke it over O'DELL's back about the same time as RIP entered the ring with a metal chair. Observing everything, referee ANGELO MARTINELLI must have figured it was time for a cold one, so he called off any further mutiliation in this one, and it ended in a double DQ, or a no-contest (what was the difference, by the way?).

I have witnessed several thousand wrestling matches in my years, and I can easily say, this was one of the best I EVER saw. Boy, did these five wrestlers know how to work a match and a crowd.

The show actually slumped a bit when the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP match came next. First of all, I was never fully into TEX McKENZIE's camp. He couldn't work any better than my lazy uncle who never worked at all (at ANYTHING), and I always resented the fact that TEX always made NELSON ROYAL take the beatings when they teamed together.

So, here is McKENZIE, a guy whose legs were longer and clumsier than Olive Oyl's, going up against GENE KINISKI for the WORLD belt. Add in the fact that there was no way (in the 1960s) the NWA was going to let their champion lose the title in Charlotte. KINISKI won the first fall. TEX came back and pinned the champ with a knee lift and judo chop off the ropes, those being the only two moves he knew. And then, KINISKI pinned McKENZIE again to win the final fall.

I suspect the concession stands were plenty busy during the world title match.

Now it was time for BECKER and WEAVER against the MASKED RED DEMONS...one more time.

This time, GEORGE and JOHNNY's SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP is on the line again, but on this night, under TEXAS DEATH MATCH rules. And in addition, it's the BELTS versus the MASKS. One team would walk out with BOTH.

Falls didn't figure in determining the winner (but was a great means of giving the participants a rest break). The Charlotte Observer reported the match went twelve falls (that I don't remember), but at the bell for unlucky fall number thirteen, the masked men were whipped to the point that they couldn't answer the bell, and even 'TWO TON' couldn't get them to their feet.

Ref MARTINELLI signaled it was over and raised BECKER and WEAVER's hands in victory. They held onto their titles and now would be able to discover exactly who these soon-to-be UNMASKED RED DEMONS were (LOL). With both men still prone on the ring from their beating, GEORGE took off one mask and JOHNNY the other and held them high in the air to the crowd's approval.

"Find out who they are Angelo," ring announcer GEORGE HARBEN requested over the microphone. Supposedly, MARTINELLI went over to them and said something ingenius like, "Hey, who are you?"

ANGELO went over to HARBEN, whispered in his ear, and HARBEN announced to all of us, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the RED DEMONS are JIMMY and BILLY HINES."

Everyone yelled, even though it really didn't mean anything. I'd never heard of JIMMY and BILLY HINES anyway. What it did mean, however, was pretty much the end of the main event run of this team who had been in JCP since late spring. I always liked the main event masked teams like THE BOLOS and THE INFERNOS, and now there wouldn't be one.

The HINES boys had a few more main event matches with 'TWO TON' but soon left the territory. When the hoods came off, so did the luster and mystique of the team.

But we still had GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER as our SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS.

But lurking in the bushes would be BOGNI & LUBICH, HAWK & HANSON or BRUTE BERNARD & SKULL MURPHY waiting for their night when they would win the belts.

And, of course, that night would come.

I related my recollections of this particular match to JOHNNY a few months before he passed away, and he said, "Yes, we did that same match all over the territory."

I was sorry he told me that.

But after I thought about what he said, it made me appreciate the fact that these men, even though they would work each other night after night, still could make each audience feel they were seeing something special.

That's how great they were.

RIP and SWEDE...one of JCP's ALL-TIME GREAT TEAMS!

2011-09-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

PAST RESIDENTS OF PARTS UNKNOWN

2011-09-02T05:11:00.000-07:00

THE INFERNOS managed by J.C. DYKES

2011-08-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

Saluting TOM RENESTO and JODY HAMILTON

2011-08-22T06:06:00.000-07:00

THERE WAS ONLY ONE JOHNNY WEAVER

2011-08-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Dean of Professional Wrestling

KLONDIKE BILL BATTLES THE MASKED MEDICS

2011-08-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

The mysterious masked duo double team the big lumberjack.

The man from Kodiak Island, Alaska gives it right back.

HARLEY RACE and NELSON ROYAL

2011-08-11T14:37:00.001-07:00

THE KENTUCKIANS and HAYSTACK CALHOUN versus THE BOLOS

2011-06-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

A CHARLOTTE CARD I REMEMBER WELL

2010-11-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

October 24, 1966

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

45 Years Ago

The very first Monday night after I received my driver's license in September, 1966, found my friend Jimmy and me planted in our ringside seats at Charlotte's Park Center.

Even though that was a school night, I was permitted to flex my independence somewhat and make my first trip to Charlotte as a licensed driver.

Once this venture was over, I was informed that wrestling (at least attending live matches) would have to be sacrificed for the time being. I had just started high school, and I was expected to hit the books, make good grades so I could get into a good college, so I could have a brilliant career in...whatever. You know the drill.

So back to the regular confinement of seeing wrestling only on WBTV and WGHP every Saturday.

With much begging and persuasion, the ban was lifted six or seven weeks later when I was permitted to return to the Queen City for a "wrestling extravaganza." I was permitted to attend ONLY because the show was at the Charlotte Coliseum, a building I had visited only a couple of times since it opened in the late 1950s. Once was for the Ringling Bros. Circus and the other for some ACC basketball game that I was dragged to by a friend.

KLONDIKE BILL was in the midst of his big push by JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS at this time. He had been "injured" by THE GREAT MALENKO during the summer, building to the Russian's annihilation by the Alaskan on the Charlotte Labor Day card.

KLONDIKE then set his sights on MALENKO's tag team partner, THE MISSOURI MAULER, who held the SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. BILL would take the belt from the MAULER, eventually losing it back to his nemesis.

The Texas team of TEX MCKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL were working a program with BRONCHO LUBICH and ALDO BOGNI during the Fall of 1966. With nothing really settled, the JCP bookers decided to head this Coliseum show by putting TEX and NELLIE in a match with BOGNI and LUBICH and to toss their evil manager HOMER O'DELL into the mix as a wrestler. To even up the sides, the red-hot KLONDIKE BILL was added to the Texas side of the ledger.

NELLIE took fall number one over LUBICH with his atomic drop. A triple-team body slam by the villains (with the far-sighted referee missing it completely) put BILL's shoulders down for the count to square the match. Then KLONDIKE's big splash on O'DELL closed the show.

BOBBY SHANE (one of David Crockett's proverbial young lions) was getting a CROCKETT push at the time. In fact, SHANE would soon be teaming with KLONDIKE in tag team main events. On this night, he faced GEORGE "TWO TON" HARRIS, in his final days as a headliner. Young BOBBY grabbed a DQ victory over TWO TON.

Girls were featured on the show, and probably for the 500th time, the great PENNY BANNER pinned TAMMY JONES.

The rugged German duo of KURT and HENRY VON STROHEIM, a B-plus to A-minus team faced another young lion in PAUL DEMARCO and veteran JESSE JAMES. With JESSE involved, it was no more than a TV match. DEMARCO could hold his own, but JESSE's career was dissolving as fast as did Barry Bonds' popularity. The Berlin boys won.

The match of the card which interested me the most was the semi-final. The SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS and favorites of most all area wrestling fans, GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER were battling the rowdy duo of the MASKED RED DEMONS, with red-headed TWO TON HARRIS at ringside as their manager.

BECKER and WEAVER had been feuding with the DEMONS since the summer when the masked men first appeared in the CROCKETT territory. After a short while, the DEMONS added the tutorial skills of TWO TON, who quickly dyed his locks red and obtained a bright red suit, with a belt buckle the size of Rhode Island, which was comparable to HOMER O'DELL's cane, i.e., a weapon.

I had witnessed these two teams go to a double DQ back in a Statesville, N.C. summer card.

JIM CROCKETT, for this match, added a stipulation to the proceedings. One of these masked men had to wear a white mask so the referee and participants could tell the ruffians apart. "Too much switchin' goin' on," said the boss. "It's too confusin." TWO TON protested. Too bad.

Much to my disappointment, when the RED DEMONS entered the ring for war, one wore a white tobagon, pulled all the way down over his face, with eye, nose and mouth holes cut out.

The championship looked to be in jeopardy when one DEMON pinned WEAVER for the first fall. Between falls, with the referee distracted, TWO TON gave JOHNNY a "big splash" with that giant belt buckle strategically placed on WEAVER's sternum. JOHNNY barely made it to his feet for the second fall.

BECKER abdominal stretched one of the DEMONS, and the match was even.

The winner of the third fall would claim the titles. And for a time, it appeared the masked men would take the crown. But our heroes battled back. Soon the DEMONS were getting thrashed. BECKER tossed the white-clad DEMON out of the corner, and the tobagon came off. Of course, his regular red mask was underneath. Then the hooded duo tried their usual switcheroo, but to no avail. JOHNNY had one of them in the corner and was ripping at the mask. At this point, TWO TON gave the "clear out" signal. But before the DEMON got away from WEAVER, the front of his mask was torn to the point that it flapped open and I remember seeing his face as clear as a bell. Of course, at that time, I had no idea who he was, but I remember this as if it happened this morning. I saw his face.

The three sped up the aisle and BECKER and WEAVER were awarded the match on a count-out.

Three months, before JOHNNY passed away, I asked him about this particular match. Was he supposed to tear the mask as he did, or was it an accident? He said he didn't remember what I described to him.

"You remember lots of these matches better than I do. George and I wrestled these guys so many times in a six-month period, I can't kept them straight."

That is completely understandable.

I saw George and Johnny work these guys, maybe four times, out of the probable one hundred matches they had with one another.

"What I do remember about these guys is that they were both small as wrestlers go, and you could throw them a mile. They took great bumps. Many times it scared me the way they took bumps. I just knew for sure that they weren't going to get back up, but they did. Oh...and they both loved their liquor."

Another story Johnny told me about the DEMONS...Some of the wrestlers had complained a little about smelling alcohol on the them during some matches. One night, in a small Virginia town, the promoter told IKE EAKINS to watch them like a hawk and make sure they didn't have any booze to drink before their main event. IKE assured the promoter he would take care of it. But when the DEMONS got to the ring, they smelled like a still.

After the show, the promoter got in IKE's face and chewed him out for not doing as he was asked. "I was with them the entire time in the dressing room before they went out. They did NOT take a drink," IKE replied. "Were you with them the ENTIRE time?" the promoter wanted to know. "ABSOLUTELY, except when they used the bathroom before their match."

Hearing that, the promoter and IKE went into the bathroom. The promoter found a bottle of booze hidden in the toilet tank.

JUNE 13, 1966

2010-11-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

Maybe you had to have been there.

And I wish you had, as this was a most memorable evening.

Backtracking a bit, I should point out that Jimmy Lewis and I had become good friends, having been in the same fourth grade class at N.B. Mills Elementary School. But the opening of Northview the following school year took care of that, at least for a while. I remained at N.B. Mills, but Jimmy was in the newly-developed Northview district, and off he went. Two years later, because of the Center Street dividing line, we continued apart - - he went to Oakwood and I went to D. Matt.

But the summer before SHS found us reunited in the classroom basement of the high school gymnasium trying to grasp the elusive concepts of Algebra I, something neither of us had accomplished in our final year of junior high. Cutting to the chase, we quickly became good friends once again and remained nearly inseparable our three years at SHS. In fact, Jimmy lived with my mother and me our senior year.

One memorable occurence I clearly recall is the night of June 13, 1966.

I had watched CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING most Saturday afternoons on WBTV-Channel 3 for several years, and aside from attending a few live wrestling shows on the rare instances they were held in Statesville, had never been to see them in the metropolis of Charlotte.

Jimmy and I had watched the wrestling show on June 11th and decided we wanted to go to see the live matches in Charlotte which were advertised on that week's TV show. But there was a problem - - how to get there. Both of us were still fifteen, thus no driver's licenses.

So we put our two skulls together and decided to ask my mother to take us. It wouldn't be an easy task of getting her to agree to our request. But Jimmy could be quite persuasive and so could I, and together as a tag team, we liked our chances. So we placed our one-sided proposal on the table, and my mother said yes. It had been much easier than we had expected.

In fact, my mom (Velma) asked a co-worker to go with us, and it became a foursome.

We left Statesville that Monday as soon as she got off work at 5:00 and headed for the "big city." Of course, no interstate to Charlotte then, so we went south on Highway 21 through Troutman (hey, there's the fair grounds), the then tiny hamlet of Mooresville and we eventually came into Charlotte. Our destination for wrestling was the Park Center (now Grady Cole Center). Being close to the then-popular Charlottetown Mall, we went to the S&W Cafeteria for a nice meal. Then off to the matches.

We arrived at Park Center, parked our really hot 1963 Plymouth Valiant (which would go from zero-to-sixty in ten minutes), and bought our RINGSIDE tickets.

I was soon sitting in the famous (to me) building, which held around three thousand. By the time the starting time of 8:15 rolled around, I doubt there was a seat to be sold.

I recall really nothing about the preliminary matches, except for the Missouri Mauler being in one of them. Everyone remembers the Missouri Mauler, right?

After an intermission, it was time for the main event match, and it was just not any main event, this match was for the Southern Tag Team Championship, which at the time, I thought, really stood for something, but I later discovered it was just a gimmick.

Up to this time, Jimmy and I had cheered and booed the wrestlers a little, but Velma and her friend sat silently. I assumed they were not having a great time. Mom would probably have been satisfied to be home watching THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and BEN CASEY. After all, she had to go to work the next morning, and with school just out, Jimmy and I could sleep until noon.

The crowd roared with approval when George and Sandy Scott made their way to the ring. They were the "good guys" and were known as The Flying Scotts because they used an arsenal of high-flying maneuvers such as drop-kicks and flying head scissors.

As soon as the crowd's screaming died down, out came the "bad guys," who were also the current champs. Aldo Bogni and Broncho Lubich were their names, and they were not well-respected among wrestling fans. And they also had an ace-in-the-hole. They used the services of a manager. His name was Homer O'Dell. Mr. O'Dell always was donned in a formal tuxedo and was dressed to the nines. He also carried a cane, which he was known to use for everything except walking. By everything, I mean he used the cane to choke, to poke and to outright hit anyone who opposed his charges. O'Dell was easily the most-hated man in Charlotte-area wrestling for the entire decade. Big Bill Ward often said of him on TV that Homer was "so low he'd have to walk on stilts to look a snake in the eye."

The match began.

These four wrestlers were at the top of the business at that time, and they REALLY knew how to get the crowd involved. Ring psychology in wrestling was always a key to being successful in the business, and these guys had masters' degrees in their craft. The crowd was up and down more than a Lutheran church service, screaming their lungs out, cheering and booing. O'Dell used the cane on the Scott brothers, nearly inciting a riot. Fortunately, no one went overboard to the point the Queen City's finest had to get involved.

I looked over at Velma and her friend, and they were going wild just like everyone else.

The full sixty-minute time limit on the match expired, the referee separated the participants, and the villains scurried out of the ring with their championship belts and went to their dressing room. The "good guy" Scott brothers remained in the ring for a while, accepting the crowd's cheers and applause for a job well done, even if they had come up short becoming the new champions.

They finally exited the ring and headed up the aisle back to their dressing room. It happened to be the aisle where we were sitting. Velma was on the end of the row. Keep in mind, these guys had been going at it for a full hour and under the hot ring lights, they looked as if they had been dropped into a well. As the two grapplers passed her, she reached out and patted one of them on the back. The perspiration went everywhere, including all over Velma.

It got her good. But she shrugged it off and we all headed for the parking lot. The show was over.

As we headed out of Charlotte, we stopped for a snack at Krispy Kreme, capping off the evening.

Then the long drive back to the City of Progress.

An evening well spent.

TOP TAG BATTLES KICK OFF NOVEMBER

2010-11-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

November 4, 1967

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

43 Years Ago

Top quality matches should pull in another large crowd for tonight's professional wrestling card at the LEXINGTON YMCA.

The current SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER, will clash with the rugged duo PAMPERO FIRPO and THE MISSOURI MAULER in a best-of-three falls explosion, set for a one-hour time limit.

Neither the team title nor WEAVER's recently-acquired SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (which he took from the MAULER) is at stake, but exciting action is expected, and a FIRPO/MAULER win would guarantee them a championship match in the near future. Neither team has any positive feelings for one another, so anything could happen.

Another top tag battle with spectator appeal matches the prize Indian combo of BOBBY RED CLOUD and CHIEF LITTLE EAGLE against super bullies BRONCHO LUBICH and ALDO BOGNI. The Indians are on a current win streak in LEXINGTON, one their opponents would like to stop dead in its tracks. This is two-of-three falls with a forty-five minute time limit.

Two singles matches are also set for tonight.

George 'TWO TON' HARRIS hopes to splash young, good-looking ALEX MEDINA and JERRY LONDON challenges the crafty veteran 'BULLDOG' LEE HENNING in the 8:15 p.m. opener.

THE ARGENTINIAN LEGEND IN JCP

2010-10-18T09:24:00.000-07:00

October 19, 1963

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

47 Years Ago

The spectacular wrestling team of GEORGE BECKER and ARGENTINA ROCCA will battle evil foes ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH in a LEXINGTON YMCA main event feature tonight.

Both BECKER and ROCCA, extremely popular with fans everywhere, are returning to Lexington after lengthy absences to meet 'COLONEL' HOMER O'DELL's rulebreaking duo. And yes, 'COLONEL' O'DELL will be in the corner of his men. The match is set for the best-of-three falls with a one-hour time limit.

Two big men will slug it out in the night's two-out-of-three falls semifinal match as big and tough IKE EAKINS takes on JACK LANZA. *

The respected Indian wrestling star, BOBBY RED CLOUD, makes his debut here tonight when he faces rugged ANGELO SAVOLDI in one of the evening's prelim matches.

---

Opening the card at 8:15 will be PRINCE OMAR facing the versatile JOHNNY 'RUBBERMAN' WALKER.

* JACK LANZA later changed his ways and wrestled heel as BLACKJACK LANZA.

MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING had 'em all...

2010-10-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Some of the many stars of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS

Some of the many wrestling cards of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS

click on images to enlarge

TWO TON IN TIGHTS

2010-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

SEPTEMBER 30, 1967

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

43 Years Ago

SIX MAN TAG TEAM action tops tonight's WRESTLING card at the LEXINGTON YMCA.

THE FLYING SCOTTS, GEORGE and SANDY, will be joined by equally popular LUTHER LINDSAY to test the power of a brutal threesome consisting of THE MISSOURI MAULER, PAMPERO FIRPO and the arrogant GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS.

Another tag team battle brings Indian greats BOBBY RED CLOUD and CHIEF LITTLE EAGLE back to town to meet the ruffian duo of JIM OSBORNE and THE MUMMY.

Both tag events will be settled under two-out-of-three falls rules.

Girl wrestlers are also scheduled with PENNY BANNER meeting top rival TAMMY JONES in a special one-fall contest.

GREG PETERSON will test PANCHO VALDEZ in the 8:15 opening match.

NEW CHAMPS DEFEND TITLE

2010-09-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

September 22, 1962

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

48 Years Ago

There are new SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS in the pro wrestling world, and the title holders will defend their newly-coveted belts in tonight's main event at the LEXINGTON YMCA.

DON CURTIS and JOE SCARPA, who recently annexed the championship from the German duo of KURT and KARL VON BRAUNER, make their local debuts tonight when they defend their titles against the rugged bully team of SWEDE HANSON and P.Y. CHUNG in a best-of-three falls contest.

HANSON and CHUNG would like to make the new champs' title reign a short one by dethroning them tonight. The challengers are tough enough to do so.

Popular young star JOHNNY WEAVER, who has created quite the sensation since arriving on the local wrestling scene several months ago, will meet SID JONES in what looks to be a scientific semi-final two-out-of-three falls match.

The 8:15 opener sends 'Roughhouse' SONNY FARGO against the equally rugged, but larger, GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS.

JOE SCARPA later wrestled as CHIEF JAY STRONGBOW.

STEINBORN BATTLES ROGERS FOR TITLE

2010-09-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

September 15, 1956

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

54 Years Ago

Wrestling attendance may have been lagging a bit at the LEXINGTON YMCA in recent weeks, but it gets a major shot in the arm tonight with a double main event attraction that would grab notice in any arena in the nation.

Local sponsors of the grappling business are making plans to pull a big attendance for tonight's slate that includes tag team and singles action.

One of ringdom's most colorful individuals, "NATURE BOY" BUDDY ROGERS, a great (but hated) WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION from the Northeast, makes his local debut for the main event. The strutting blonde-headed genius will have his hands full because he'll be opposing one of the fastest-rising young stars in the business, DICK STEINBORN.

This is a match that STEINBORN has been requesting since hearing the Champ was headed this way.

ROGERS' championship could seriously be challenged in this two-out-of-three falls title match.

Tonight's tag team match could well be one of the best-ever presented in the 4500 seat YMCA arena.

It's one the fans demanded themselves.

It sends the glamour gentlemen of the sport, GEORGE BECKER and JACK WITZIG against those roughest of mean men, KARL VON HESS and SKULL MURPHY. Fans have wanted to see BECKER and WITZIG get a chance to lamblast these villains, and tonight, it comes to fruition. They'll battle for the best-of-three falls.

The opener tonight should also be a corker, because it matches the explosive young LEN ROSSI against the stubborn Texan roughie, "LARRUPIN" LOU PLUMMER.

BECKER'S BACK TO BATTLE BOLO

2010-09-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

September 12, 1960

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

50 Years Ago

The long-awaited return bout between fan favorite GEORGE BECKER and the much-hated masked man, THE GREAT BOLO, will headline tonight's PARK CENTER wrestling card starting at 8:15.

Hero BECKER, who recently returned to the ring after a six month absence due to a severe knee injury, has won three straight matches here preparing for his return tussle with the hooded BOLO.

In their first meeting, BECKER won the first fall, and then the pair fought a standoff the remainder of their one hour time limit.

Perhaps a technical BECKER victory, it was not an official one as two winning falls were not recorded, therefore THE GREAT BOLO was NOT required to unmask. BOLO has a stipulation in his contracts stating that he will unmask in the ring after losing two-out-of-three falls to a pinfall or submission.

Tag team action makes up the semifinal tonight when GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT face JAN MADRID and GYPSY JOE in another best-of-three falls contest.

Singles action opens the card with FARMER JONES returning to Charlotte to meet TOM BRADLEY, and JACK CURTIS goes against LOUIS TILLET in the opening contest.

LEXINGTON LUMBERJACKS

2010-09-14T07:25:00.000-07:00

September 10, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

44 Years Ago

A LUMBERJACK MATCH has been scheduled to see if two top wrestling tag teams, TEX McKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL on one side, the MASKED RED DEMONS on the other, can settle their differences at the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight.

Six other wrestlers will spot themselves around the ring to prevent any runouts of any type taken by the RED DEMONS two weeks ago.

The Texas duo won that match on a count out. Tonight's main event is set for two-out-of-three falls within a one-hour time limit.

Huge Alaskan KLONDIKE BILL, with lumberjack experience, will join forces with fast-moving New Zealander ABE JACOBS to meet behemoths GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS and BIG BOY BLONDELL in another best-of-three falls contest.

A special event will send girl wrestlers TONI ROSE and DIXIE JORDAN against one another in what should be a crowd-pleasing event.

Newcomer DON KENT, who debuted here last week, meets CORSICA JEAN in a singles bout, kicking off the card at 8:15.

KLONDIKE, JACOB, HARRIS, BLONDELL, KENT and JEAN will serve as the six lumberjacks during the headliner.

MORE LABOR DAY ACTION...

2010-09-08T05:26:00.000-07:00

September 7, 1959

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

51 Years Ago

Eighteen wrestlers make up one of the biggest wrestling cards in the history of Charlotte grappling tonight in the LABOR DAY mat card at the CHARLOTTE COLISEUM. It promises to be a memorable evening.

The huge holiday card consists of three tag matches, one of which matches six wrestlers, and two single scraps.

Headlining the card is the SIX MAN setto, with the Jap trio of MR. MOTO, DUKE KEOMUKA and SUIGI taking on ruffians LARRY 'CRUSHER' HAMILTON, THE GREAT BOLO and PAT O'HARA. None of these men respects the rule book, so the best-of-three falls encounter is bound to be an explosive skirmish.

The semi-final beings in four colored girls for tag action. One team has BABS WINGO and MARVA SCOTT with the opposition being furnished by CAT WINBLEY and ETHEL JOHNSON.

Then comes a pair of singles tussels, one sending crowd favorite GEORGE BECKER against STEVE BOLUS and the other pairing DICK STEINBORD against DANNY MERCE.

The third tag battle will open the card at 8:15 and pairs JOHNNY HEIDEMAN and JACK DONOVAN to fight CYCLONE ANAYA and JOHN FOTI.

LABOR DAY AT THE BIG DOME

2010-09-04T09:20:00.000-07:00

September 4, 1961

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

49 Years Ago

Eighteen wrestlers, including four girl grapplers, will make up the summer's biggest wrestling card at the CHARLOTTE COLISEUM tonight.

Headling the big LABOR DAY spectacular will be a tag team match that pits two teams noted for rough tactics and no regard for the rule book.

No doubt, one of the season's rowdiest bouts will occur when the German brother team of KURT and KARL VON BRAUNER meet THE MASKED MEDICS. 'Gentleman' SAUL WEINEGROFF will be in the corner of the Germans, as usual, displaying his managerial skills. THE MASKED MEDICS, who claim they were both kicked out of medical school for not following 'protocol,' say they will handle WEINEGROFF if he gets out of line. Both teams have cut paths in tag team avenues since coming here, so something's gotta give in the best-of-three falls clash.

The co-main event will also pack a wallop tonight as fan favorite CHIEF BIG HEART meets the rugged JOHNNY VALENTINE, also set for two-out-of-three falls.

Then come the girls as BABS WINGO and LULA MAE PROVO take on PEARL BATES and RAMONA ISABEL in tag team action.

Yet another tag encounter has GEORGE BECKER teaming with New Zealander ABE JACOBS against LAVERNE BAXTER and TOMMY O'TOOLE.

'DR.' EDDIE GRAHAM will face Oriental P.Y. CHUNG, and the 8:15 opener sends RAY VILLMER against GYPSY JOE.

Advance tickets on sale at the NATIONAL HAT SHOP in downtown Charlotte or the COLISEUM box office.

LABOR DAY WRESTLING IN LEXINGTON...

2010-09-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

September 3, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

44 Years Ago

Tough guys RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON, known as wrestling's 'BLONDE BOMBERS,' will test the prowess of the Texas hero team of TEX McKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL in tonight's LEXINGTON YMCA wrestling main event tonight.

McKENZIE and ROYAL are fresh from a victory over the MASKED RED DEMONS last week and want to keep their winning streak going. HAWK and HANSON are returning to the area after an absence and have plans to stop the cowboys in their boots. Two-of-three falls will determine the outcome.

Popular KEN HOLLIS will join forces with young BOBBY SHANE to meet the rugged brother duo of LARS and GENE ANDERSON in the other tag team event, also for the best two-out-of-three falls.

JESSE JAMES meets EL GAUCHO, and DON KENT makes his local debut against TINKER TODD in the 8:15 opening contest.

THE GREAT BOLO SEES RED...

2010-08-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

August 26, 1958

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

52 Years Ago

A FIGHT TO THE FINISH will headline tonight's PARK CENTER wrestling program

The NO TIME LIMIT bout will give RED BASTIEN a second shot at THE GREAT BOLO, and if BASTIEN can capture two falls-out-of-three, off will come BOLO's mask.

Last Monday night, the pair battled to a one-hour draw without a single fall being recorded during the sixty-minute time limit.

"There must be a decision this week," says promoter JIM CROCKETT. "I don't care if they have to wrestle three hours---this match is going to settle something."

The semi-final scrap is a tag team contest that pairs GEORGE BECKER and CYCLONE ANAYA against the rugged German brother duo of FRITZ and WALDO VON ERIC. The Germans were disqualified in a bout last week with BILLY TWO RIVERS and his partner and quickly showed they are among the roughest duos in the wrestling business today. This match is set for the best two-out-of-three falls.

Two single bouts complete the card.

One has ERNIE DUSEK taking on NICK ROBERTS, and the 8:15 opener sends footballer MIKE PAIDOUSIS against TINKER TODD.

BRING THE MOSQUITO REPELLENT

2010-08-24T07:38:00.000-07:00

August 24, 1959

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

51 Years Ago

Professional wrestling moves outdoors tonight with a big, five-bout card slated for CHARLOTTE MEMORIAL STADIUM.

Headling the starlit program presented by promoter JIM CROCKETT is a war for the SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP, which gives challengers LARRY 'CRUSHER' HAMILTON and his masked partner, THE GREAT BOLO, another shot at the titleholders, DUKE KEOMUKA and MR. MOTO.

The two teams have gone at it several times already with all of the matches ending in brawls. Neither team has respect for the rule book. So this time, CROCKETT is adding the NO DISQUALIFICATION and NO TIME LIMIT clauses to the mix, ensuring a definite winner. The tag team championship will be decided by two-out-of-three falls.

Popular GEORGE BECKER takes on the rugged IKE EAKINS in the co-feature.

The other top prelim features Indian favorite BILLY TWO RIVERS tackling JACK CURTIS.

A special girls tag match has JUDY GRABLE and PAT LYDA battling RITA CORTEZ and MARGIE RAMSAY. The first team to record two falls will be the winner.

The 8:15 opener sends BOB BOYER against newcomer BILLY STRAWN.

CO-MAIN EVENTS TOP WRESTLING CARD

2010-08-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

August 21, 1961

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

49 Years Ago

The long-simmering feud between CHIEF BIG HEART and the dastardly duo of P.Y. CHUNG and SWEDE HANSON comes to a boil in the headline bout on tonight's PARK CENTER pro wrestling card, presented by JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS.

CHIEF BIG HEART has picked up the very capable RAY VILLMER as his partner to battle CHUNG and HANSON in two-out-of-three falls tag team warfare. It's set for a one hour time limit.

The co-main event promises to be equally as exciting as the fan favorite combo of GEORGE BECKER and ABE JACOBS take on THE MASKED MEDICS in a 45-minute, best-of-three-falls encounter.

THE MEDICS have been going through opposition with great regularity as of late, and BECKER and JACOBS will be out to put a stop to it.

Two singles bouts will complete the card.

One squares off PAT O'BRIEN against LEE GARCIA, and the 8:15 opener has GENE MURPHY, a newcomer, battling TITO CARREON.

LUCKY MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLING FANS

2010-08-19T09:18:00.001-07:00

WE HAD THE GREATEST WRESTLERS IN THE WORLD!

BECKER BACK IN LEXINGTON...

2010-08-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

August 15, 1961

49 Years Ago

GEORGE BECKER and ABE JACOBS, a couple of top heroes with local wrestling fans, will return to the LEXINGTON YMCA for mat action tonight.

The two gladiators, who recently have operated as a tag team, will divide their forces this week to meet rugged opponents in a pair of singles main events.

BECKER will battle the mighty Greek star, CHRIS AVEROFF, while JACOBS will scrap with big SWEDE HANSON.

Both matches are set for the best-of-three falls.

Midget stars take over in a tag team match pitting popular little guys FRENCHY SEMARD and TINY BELL against the not-so-popular duo of FARMER McGRUDER and PEE WEE LOPEZ.

A preliminary match between SID JONES and PRINCE OMAR will open the card at 8:15.

EVERY MATCH A MAIN EVENT

2010-08-09T09:45:00.001-07:00

AUGUST 10, 1959

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

51 Years Ago

Many wrestling fans are saying that promoter JIM CROCKETT has outdone himself with tonight's pro wrestling card. Every match on the program could headline any wrestling show anywhere in the United States.

But it is the fans in the CHARLOTTE area who shall reap the benefits.

In tonight's headliner at PARK CENTER, the devious duo of MR. MOTO and DUKE KEOMUKA will face another challenge for their SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP. The Japs, who have protected their titles at any cost against all comers in the month they have had the belts, will face a severe challenge when they meet fan favorites GEORGE BECKER and BILLY TWO RIVERS, the top-ranked contenders. The championship encounter is set for the best two-of-three falls, with a one hour time limit.

The semi-final squares off PAT O'HARA and THE GREAT BOLO. Perhaps tonight will be the lucky night for the Irishman in his quest to unmask the hooded ruffian. O'HARA has come close a few times, but THE GREAT BOLO has managed to hang on to his mask...so far. This one's also two-out-of-three falls, forty-five minute limit.

The main prelim sends popular DANO O'SHOCKER against the rugged LARRY 'CRUSHER' HAMILTON for one fall, thirty minutes.

And the 8:15 opener, set for one fall and twenty minutes, has REGGIE PARKS, the handsome Canadian scraper from Ontario, meeting CYCLONE ANAYA.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early to guarantee a seat.

BOLO BATTLES IN TEXAS DEATH MATCH

2010-08-04T06:34:00.000-07:00

August 4, 1958

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

52 Years Ago

They're going to settle something, and someone is likely to get hurt really bad when ERNIE DUSEK takes on THE GREAT BOLO for the third straight week in the feature bout of tonight's PARK CENTER wrestling card, presented by promoter JIM CROCKETT.

The reason for the possible injuries - - this time the two roughnecks will go at each other under TEXAS DEATH MATCH rules. This means that the two vicious veterans will battle each other until one hollers "I'VE HAD ENOUGH," or one is injured and unable to continue.

"Falls will not count, and it's strictly dog-eat-dog," says CROCKETT. There will be NO DISQUALIFICATION - - such as the match that ended last week when it appeared that DUSEK would unmask the hooded BOLO. The match two weeks back ended in a one-hour draw with falls equal. Both bouts ended in blood flowing from both opponents. Tonight's clash may not be for the squeamish.

Three other bouts make up the card.

The main prelim pairs CYCLONE ANAYA and GORY GUERRERO in a tag team match against ANTONE LEONE and FRNAK JARES. The scrap is set for one hour and two-of-three falls.

There is a styled-for-action singles contest which has popular GEORGE BECKER facing HANS SCHNABEL, the barrel-chested veteran from Milwaukee. It's carded for one fall and 45 minutes.

The 8:15 opener sends NICK ROBERTS against 'Crybaby' BOB CORBY for one fall and 30 minutes. ROBERTS is the handsome Atlanta grappler who gave WORLD CHAMPION DICK HUTTON such a tough bout here two months ago.

LEXINGTON FIREWORKS DISPLAY

2010-08-01T13:26:00.001-07:00

AUGUST 3, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

---

44 Years Ago

There will be a NO DISQUALIFICATION tag team rematch between the prize Texas team of TEX MCKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL and the unpredictable duo of the MASKED RED DEMONS tonight in LEXINGTON YMCA action.

---

TEX and NELLIE defeated their hooded opponents here last week but were not pleased, as the win came by a disqualification. The Texans claim they would have had one of the DEMONS unmasked if their opponents had not purposely got themselves disqualified in order to protect their identities.

---

THE MASKED RED DEMONS claim differently. They say they would have won the match outright had the official not been prejudiced against them.

---

All points to a scorcher in tonight's best-of-three falls return event.

---

Heroes JESSE JAMES and young BOBBY SHANE join forces for the first time to meet the tough brother team from Minnesota, LARS and GENE ANDERSON, in another two-out-of-three falls contest.

---

Single matches kick off the evening with newcomer JOHN HIGGINS facing veteran CORSICA JEAN.

---

KEN HOLLIS squares off against JAN MADRID in the 8:15 opening match.

THE TAG BELTS ARE ON THE LINE...

2010-07-15T08:41:00.000-07:00

July 13, 1963

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

47 Years Ago

Wrestling fans who like tag team action will get a double dose in an all-star card tonight at the LEXINGTON YMCA.

The current SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, RAY ANDREWS and ERIC POMEROY, will defend their honor and belts against the savage challengers, ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH, who are managed by their strutting, cane-carrying manager HOMER O'DELL.

Popular stars REGGIE PARKS and JOHNNY WEAVER return after an absence to face the mammoth duo of "big and round guys" GEORGE 'CRYBABY' CANNON and GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS in the co-main event.

Both tag team matches are set for the best-two-out-of-three falls.

Action will get underway at 8:15 when two more big men, FRANK VALOIS and PAT O'BRIEN, meet in the opener.

THE DEBUT OF THE MINNESOTA WRECKING CREW

2010-07-09T12:26:00.000-07:00

JULY 9, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

44 Years Ago

Fan favorite JOHNNY WEAVER gets another crack at the SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP when he meets title holder THE MISSOURI MAULER in tonight's LEXINGTON YMCA pro wrestling two-out-of-three falls main event.

It will be a rematch of a thriller here several weeks ago in which the MAULER was able to hang on to his title only by a thread.

WEAVER employed his famous "sleeper hold" for what would have been the deciding fall, but he was outside the ropes, and the brutal (and fortunate) champ was allowed to retain his belt when the referee was forced to disqualify WEAVER.

JOHNNY has promised a different outcome tonight.

In the evening's tag team battle, the popular duo of ABE JACOBS and RUDY KAYE will meet LARS and GENE ANDERSON, a rugged twosome from Minnesota, who are making their Lexington debut.

This match is also for two-of-three falls.

Another big man of wrestling, Kodiak, Alaska's KLONDIKE BILL, also makes his first appearance here when he faces the tough veteran EL GAUCHO in one of two supporting bouts.

The 8:15 opener will send two bullies, IKE EAKINS and TONY NERO, against one another.

TWO TOP TEAM TESTS

2010-07-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

July 8, 1967

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

43 Years Ago

Professional wrestling returns to the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight following a one-week layoff, and two gigantic tag team matches headline the program, starting at 8:15 p.m.

The big guys of the sport, TINY ANDERSON and BIG BOY BROWN, known as THE KENTUCKIANS, square off against the crafty and sneaky Oriental duo of HARU SASAKI and P.Y. CHUNG in tonight's top match.

THE KENTUCKIANS have a massive size advantage, but their opponents from the Far East are experts in ju-jitsu and karate, in addition to having many tricks up their sleeves, so anything could happen.

The other tag team affair will pit the crowd-pleasing combo of NELSON ROYAL and THE AMAZING ZUMA against the masked terror team of THE INFERNOS, who will have their manager J.C. DYKES in their corner.

All four wrestlers are gifted with great speed and ring smarts, but the addition of DYKES, who some fans believe bears a resemblance to Woody Woodpecker, could get involved and make a difference.

Both tag bouts are set for the best-of-three-falls.

LUTHER LINDSAY returns after an absence and will test tough TONY ROMANO in one of the night's singles matches.

The card opener sends popular GREG PETERSON against veteran PEDRO GODOY.

THE GREAT BOLO RETURNS TO CHARLOTTE...

2010-07-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

July 7, 1958

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

52 Years Ago

The return of the infamous masked man of wrestling, the GREAT BOLO, will headline the wrestling program set for tonight at PARK CENTER.

The GREAT BOLO, the vicious masked man who has withstood all efforts to defeat and / or unmask him, has been matched tonight against GORY GUERRERO.

The handsome GUERRERO was BOLO's first victim in Charlotte some two months ago, and GORY has been aching for a rematch ever since. He'll get one hour and two-out-of-three falls to gain revenge.

Also getting co-feature status is a best-of-three-falls, one-hour tag match with Indian stars BILLY TWO RIVERS and CHIEF DON EAGLE taking on ruffians IKE EAKINS and HANS SCHNABEL.

Promoter JIM CROCKETT figures this one to produce some of the wildest and wooliest tag team action seen here in months.

The prelim card has two singles bouts, with one sending fan favorite 'IRISH' MIKE CLANCY lowering the boom against 'BAD' BOB CORBY.

The opening contests matches GYPSY JOE against TINKER TODD. Neither of these men respect the rules of wrestling, so anything could happen in this one.

The first bout in the AIR-CONDITIONED PARK CENTER gets underway at 8:15 p.m.

THE DEMONS KEEP ON KEEPING ON...

2010-07-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

July 2, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

44 Years Ago

Two new tag team combinations will be seen in action against a pair of established duets on tonight's LEXINGTON YMCA pro wrestling card.

Action kicks off at 8:15 p.m.

Popular GEORGE 'CATALINA' DRAKE and LUTHER LINDSAY will combine their talents for the first time to meet the rugged twosome of THE MISSOURI MAULER and THE GREAT MALENKO. DRAKE and LINDSAY are quick and agile and wrestle by the rulebook. Across the ring, MALENKO and the MAULER are both rough wrestlers and have never heard of a wrestling rulebook.

Polished operators PAUL DEMARCO and KEN HOLLIS, both young guys loved by the fans, will join ranks to face off against the MASKED RED DEMONS in the other tag contest of the evening. The RED DEMONS continue to create problems for their opponents. In the short time they have been wrestling in LEXINGTON, they have taken both GEORGE BECKER & JOHNNY WEAVER and GEORGE & SANDY SCOTT to the limit, one match by a double disqualification, the other a sixty-minute draw. Their identities remain a mystery.

Both tag matches are set for the best two-out-of-three falls.

Two singles matches, both promising lots of action, will send KARL GOTCH against big JOHN GUDISKI and popular STEVE BOLUS facing the veteran CORSICA JEAN.

THESZ DEFENDS AGAINST WEAVER...

2010-06-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

JUNE 27, 1964

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

46 Years Ago

It's the opportunity of a wrestler's lifetime!

JOHNNY WEAVER, one of the most popular wrestlers in the Carolinas, will get a chance to capture the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP at the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight when he faces the champion LOU THESZ in the featured main event.

WEAVER is considered a top contender for the coveted championship due to his excellent record since arriving in the Carolinas about two years ago. THESZ is known as a champion who dodges no one.

"WEAVER is a very worthy opponent who can hold his own with anyone," said the World Champion. "I'll need to be at 100% to leave Lexington with the title, but I intend to do just that."

The title match is for the best-of-three falls with a one hour time limit.

Co-featuring the program will be a top tag team match between the bullish duo of BRUTE BERNARD and SKULL MURPHY facing the great Osage Indian star CHIEF BIG HEART and his new partner RONNIE ETCHINSON. Also for two-out-of-three falls, this match has a 45 minute time limit.

AAU champion TIM WOODS will be challenged by rugged PAT O'BRIEN in one preliminary match.

The 8:15 opener sends young ALEX MEDINA against the crafty TINKER TODD.

CAN THEY BE STOPPED?

2010-06-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

June 25, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

44 Years Ago

A big tag team battle, matching two swift-moving teams against one another, headlines tonight's four bout card at the LEXINGTON YMCA starting at 8:15.

The FLYING SCOTTS, GEORGE and SANDY, will take a crack at the hooded terror duo of THE MASKED RED DEMONS.

The SCOTT brothers are known for their fantastic aerial maneuvers, while the DEMONS are gaining a local reputation for having no regard for law and order. They conceal their identities behind scarlet masks and have been racking up a huge win streak since arriving in this wrestling area. GEORGE and SANDY will try to derail this runaway freight train in the best two-out-of-three fall contest. They have a one hour time limit to do it.

JAN MADRID, a strutting bully, returns after a long absence to run head-on into the able ABE JACOBS in tonight's semi-final match.

GEORGE 'CATALINA' DRAKE meets ALEX MEDINA in a one-fall encounter.

KEN HOLLIS battles TONY NERO in the evening's first match.

IT COULD END IN THE BATHROOM...

2010-06-22T10:06:00.000-07:00

June 23, 1969

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

41 Years Ago

There may be occasion to pin a wrestler on the floor at PARK CENTER tonight.

A SIX MAN TAG TEAM rematch between all three of the ANDERSON BROTHERS (LARS, GENE and OLE) and their foes, PAUL JONES and the SCOTT BROTHERS (GEORGE and SANDY), has been contracted.

Because of wild romps their last time out, it has been decided that the referee can make his count either inside or outside of the ring.

"We'll catch them any way or any where we can," promises SANDY SCOTT, speaking for his team, the winner's last Monday night. "We'll play the ANDERSONs' game---and beat them at it!"

The FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE match is for the best-of-three falls within a one-hour time limit.

Young BOBBY SHANE will tangle with veteran TOM BRADLEY, bushy-haired and rough from the opening bell, in the semi-final event.

JOHNNY HEIDEMAN, a fellow who loves to spend his off hours on a handball court, takes on RON CHARLES, a newcomer, in the 8:15 opening match.

GEORGE and JOHNNY meet THE DEMONS...

2010-06-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

June 18, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

44 Years Ago

They wrestled apart here last Saturday, but the fans' favorite duo, GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER, are back together as a unit tonight at the LEXINGTON YMCA in pro wrestling action.

Belltime is 8:15 p.m.

And it looks as if they will have their hands full when they enter the ring to meet a newer team to this wrestling area, THE MASKED RED DEMONS.

Just as their name implies, this tag team hides their identities behind red masks and are very rough in the ring.

BECKER and WEAVER issued the following statement concerning their main event match for tonight, "We don't know who these men are or where they come from, but since coming to the area, they've beaten some good teams. And just like HAWK and HANSON and BOGNI and LUBICH, they win any way they can, with no regard for the rulebook. So we'll have our hands full. But we're going to try to put a stop to them before they can get a foothold here."

THE MASKED RED DEMONS had no comment.

Another tag team loved by the fans, TEX McKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL, will be on tonight's card and we face the rugged veteran duo of IKE EAKINS and EL GAUCHO.

Both tag team matches will go the best two-out-of-three falls.

GEORGE "CATALINA" DRAKE will return here after an absence to face LUTHER LINDSAY, North Carolina's own top Negro star. These two have teamed together in the past, so the match should prove interesting.

In tonight's opening match, up-and-coming star, young PAUL DEMARCO squares off against veteran JOHN GUDISKI.

SKINHEADS IN A HAYSTACK

2010-06-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

June 13, 1964

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

46 Years Ago

Wrestling fans will be treated to plenty of tag team action tonight at the LEXINGTON YMCA as matches include both heavyweight and midget stars.

Topping the card tonight is HAYSTACK CALHOUN, the world's biggest wrestler, and his speedy young partner JOHNNY WEAVER.

They will be matched against the brutal team of SKULL MURPHY and BRUTE BERNARD in a best-of-three falls rematch between the two duos.

These four fought it out last Saturday night in a thriller won by CALHOUN and WEAVER. The skin-headed combo of BERNARD and MURPHY, not satisfied with how they lost, asked for another shot. (Actually, MURPHY did the asking as the BRUTE doesn't do much talking.)

Midgets and heavyweights combine on teams in the semi-final. Heavyweight ALEX MEDINA will work with little FRENCHIE SEMARD, and they will oppose little guy CHICO SANTANA and his heavyweight partner PAT O'BRIEN.

Singles action sends TIM WOODS against JOE TOMASSA, with CHRIS AVEROFF tangling with SONNY FARGO in the 8:15 opener.

ANOTHER TOP JCP STAR HAS PASSED AWAY...

2010-06-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

He was the father of professional wrestlers AURELIAN, JR. (a.k.a. JAKE "THE SNAKE" ROBERTS), Michael (a.k.a. SAM HOUSTON), and Robin (a.k.a. ROCKIN' ROBIN).

While wrestling in Texas in 1962, SMITH met LUKE BROWN (real name Carl Dennis Campbell, Sr.). The two formed a tag team known as THE KENTUCKIANS, using the hillbilly gimmick.

The team became one of the top duos in the country, filling arenas everywhere they wrestled, including JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS venues.

They worked all of the top heel teams on the JCP roster, i.e., BOGNI & LUBICH, HAWK & HANSON, BERNARD & MURPHY, SMITH and KAMEROFF.

But, without question, their biggest paydays came feuding with the masked team of THE GREAT BOLO and BOLO, later THE ASSASSINS (TOM RENESTO & JODY HAMILTON).

These four took their rivalry all over the United States, selling out buildings wherever they wrestled.

THE KENTUCKIANS versus THE BOLOS

(click on images to enlarge)

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In the late 1960's, SMITH returned to the CROCKETT rings, teaming with MR. WRESTLING (TIM WOODS), again facing the top heel duos in the territory, including an unsuccessful run at the SOUTHERN TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP, then held by GENE & OLE ANDERSON.

Our condolences to his family.

JOHNNY GOES FOR THE TITLE...

2010-06-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

June 11, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

44 Years Ago

The SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP will be at stake in tonight's LEXINGTON YMCA feature attraction.

THE MISSOURI MAULER, holder of the coveted belt designating the championship, will defend his honor against the popular JOHNNY WEAVER, probably the most popular wrestler in the Carolinas, who has held this title himself.

The two-out-of-three falls encounter matches two long-time adversaries within a one-hour time limit.

A tag team battle is also set, and a battle it should be when GEORGE BECKER (WEAVER's regular tag partner) joins his old buddy ABE JACOBS to meet the brutal German brother combination of KURT and HENRY VON STROHEIM in a two-of-three falls contest.

"Johnny's title match gives ABE and me a chance to team back up like we used to do. ABE and I are going to take care of the Germans, then watch JOHNNY become the new SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION," BECKER has stated.

In the prelim matches, which kick off the 8:15 p.m. card, the tough veteran EL GAUCHO meets North Carolina's own LUTHER LINDSAY, and KEN HOLLIS dukes it out with RUDY KAYE.

SIBBLINGS SQUABBLE

2010-06-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

June 9, 1969

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

41 Years Ago

Any time THE INFERNOS and manager J. C. DYKES enter an arena, trouble is on the way. DYKES and his masked team approach the art of wrestling as if they're engaging in war, and DYKES can make matters even worse.

The team challenging THE INFERNOS tonight is SILENTO RODRIGUEZ and GREG PETERSON, and they have promised to give the hooded duo a tough outing on the PARK CENTER wrestling card, starting at 8:15. And this is only the semi-final match of the night.

"We will win fair and square, as we always do," smirked the red-haired manager DYKES. "THE INFERNOS are the hottest (pun intended) team in professional wrestling today. I say bring them all into the ring. The team that marches out the victors will be my blue tigers."

In the headliner tonight, two sets of brothers will be feuding again, as a return tag match pits GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT against GENE and OLE ANDERSON.

The "FLYING SCOTTS" were disqualified their last time out with the "MINNESOTA WRECKING CREW" and tonight, that can't happen as the match will be fought with a NO DISQUALIFICATION stipulation, so anything goes.

Both tag matches are set for the best two-out-of-three falls.

In a special event, ladies PENNY BANNER and TONI ROSE will offer their contrasting brands of wrestling in a one-fall encounter. PENNY wrestles according to the rulebook and TONI throws that book out the window.

Tough Cuban PANCHO VALDEZ tangles with SONNY FARGO in the opening one-fall contest.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early as a sellout is expected.

ONE THAT GOT AWAY...

2010-06-04T06:51:00.000-07:00

June 19, 1964

STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

46 Years Ago

---CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE---

This newspaper clipping, courtesy of Mark Eastridge and Dick Bourne, saddens and angers me in that a JIM CROCKETT PRMOTIONS wrestling show came to my home town and I didn't go.

Forty-six years out, I don't know if I wasn't aware of it's happening or I just couldn't get there. I was a mere thirteen at the time.

Maybe I was grounded as punishment for some dastardly deed I had perpetrated.

Whichever, it's one that got away.

HEEL TEAM DEBUTS IN LEXINGTON...

2010-06-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

JUNE 4, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

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44 Years Ago

A speedy team of popular heroes meets brutal and deliberate opponents in featured tag team wrestling at the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight starting at 8:15.

GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT, the "FLYING SCOTTS" as they are known in the wrestling business, pit their spectacular offense against the skin-headed bullies SKULL MURPHY and BRUTE BERNARD in the main event match. These two teams are long-time rivals.

The other tag battle matches the flashy RUDY KAYE and ABE JACOBS against rugged ruffians THE GREAT MALENKO and THE MISSOURI MAULER, teaming here for the first time.

Both tag encounters are set for the best two-of-three falls.

A special attraction tonight matches two top-ranked Negro girl stars, as SWEET GEORGIA BROWN takes on PRINCESS UBANGI.

Popular STEVE BOLUS meets big JOHN GUDISKI in the opening match.

MEMORIAL DAY WRESTLING

2010-05-30T10:09:00.001-07:00

May 29, 1961

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

49 Years Ago

Tonight's PARK CENTER wrestling card has been completed with a main event match sending fan favorite GEORGE BECKER against rugged big SWEDE HANSON headlining the evening's action.

The BECKER-HANSON battle, which is set for one hour, two-out-of-three falls, will be preceded by a tag team tussle and three single matches.

The tag affair has CHIEF BIG HEART joining STEVE BOLUS to take on former gridironer MIKE PAIDOUSIS and rough CHRIS AVEROFF for the best-of-three falls, 45 minute time limit.

The list of three single scuffles is headed by a P. Y. CHUNG - BOB NANDOR match, plus SANDY SCOTT versus TERRY GARVIN and ABE JACOBS taking on TINKER TODD.

The first match is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. and advance tickets are on sale at the NATIONAL HAT SHOP in uptown Charlotte.

TWO MAIN EVENTS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!

2010-05-25T05:26:00.000-07:00

May 24, 1969

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

41 Years Ago

Power-packed action is offered wrestling fans in an all-star card at the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight, kicking off at 8:15.

The first of two big tag team matches will send the "BLONDE BOMBERS" RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON against the popular Texas twosome of NELSON ROYAL and PAUL JONES. The Texans are fast and high-flying, the "BOMBERS" mean and rugged, so the clash of styles could make for just a plain old battle.

Co-featuring the agenda will be a tag battle between the popular duo of Hawaiian SAM STEAMBOAT and partner MR. WRESTLING when they face the highly dangerous combo of THE INFERNOS. Interesting that STEAMBOAT is the only participant who doesn't hide his true identity behind a mask. Both teams have been on a winning streak lately, so something's gotta give in this one. Add in THE INFERNOS' crafty manager, J.C. DYKES, and anything might happen.

Both tag matches will go the best-of-three falls.

Rough PANCHO VALDEZ meets young RANDY CURTIS and fan favorite GREG PETERSON will contest BOBBY PAUL in the evening's first match.

2010-05-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

May 23, 1964

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

46 Years Ago

Powerful villains of the wrestling world BRUTE BERNARD and SKULL MURPHY will have plenty of opposition in a LEXINGTON YMCA wrestling main event tonight because they are going to meet the mighty HAYSTACK CALHOUN and his speedy partner JOHNNY WEAVER in a two-of-three falls tag team contest.

CALHOUN and WEAVER, slated for Y action tonight, heard about the rowdy disposition of the two "skinheads," MURPHY, an Irishman and the Canadian VERNARD, and asked to meet the bullies in the confines of the ring.

Two other matches are slated.

FRANK VALOIS, trying for another victory, will face JACK ALLEN.

Young ALEX MEDINA squares off against TOMMY O'TOOLE in the 8:15 opening match.

2010-05-21T05:23:00.000-07:00

May 21, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

44 Years Ago

Wrestling fans will get a chance to witness a rematch between the teams of TEX McKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL and RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON at the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight.

Demands for the return came after the popular Texans lost a disputed match to the BLONDE BOMBERS last Saturday night. It has been contended that HAWK used the ropes in an illegal manner to produce the decisive fall when ROYAL was in position to win it all for his team.

The two-out-of-three falls tag match highlights the card which also contains the following other matches:

Newcomer PAUL DEMARCO meets veteran tough guy IKE EAKINS in the semifinal.

KARL GOTCH takes on CORSICA JEAN, while two other newcomers, RAY GARDINI and KEN HOLLIS, clash in the 8:15 opening match of the evening.

THE COLISEUM IS GOING TO EXPLODE!

2010-05-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

May 20, 1963

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

47 Years Ago

When four of the roughest and toughest wrestlers EVER to appear in the Carolinas face off against each other, there's bound to be quite a collision. Add to that a tuxedo-wearing, cane-carrying "gentleman" who provides even more dirty work while operating at ringside, and you have a rousing night's work cut out for a wrestling referee.

That will be the scenario at the CHARLOTTE COLISEUM tonight when THE GREAT BOLO and BOLO, the masked roughnecks who have kept their identities secret for so long, go against equally rugged BRONCHO LUBICH and ALDO BOGNI (accompanied by their manager HOMER O'DELL) in a two-out-of-three falls BATTLE OF THE BULLIES clash.

It's the headline bout on a seven match card which gets underway at 8:15 p.m. Tickets for this big show are now available at the COLISEUM box office and the NATIONAL HAT SHOP in downtown Charlotte.

ARGENTINA ROCCA, the man who has filled New York City's Madison Square Garden to capacity no less than fifteen times, is also on the card in a special match against ruffian FRANK VALOIS in a one-fall event.

THE KENTUCKIANS, TINY ANDERSON and BIG BOY BROWN, will also make an appearance. They will put their combined 700 pounds against another huge team in SWEDE HANSON and "CRYBABY" CANNON. This tag match is set for the best-of-three falls.

RIP (don't call me chicken) HAWK, yet another vicious character, returns to Charlotte for the first time since Christmas to meet popular Indian star BILLY TWO RIVERS in the main prelim match.

Three more single matches featuring top mat stars will round out tonight's gigantic wrestling event.

The QUEEN of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS...

2010-05-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

It took Mary Ann Kostecki only one professional wrestling match to decide to change her name.

The transition in identification came not so many years ago in a small Ohio town where the shapely St. Louis blonde with the green eyes made her mat debut under the tutelage of the late Billy Wolfe.

"Sure, I was nervous until the bell rang, but you might say I was more embarrased when I heard the ring announcer struggling with my name. I won the match and Billy agreed I had a name nobody could remember," said the statuesque young lady.

The new name...PENNY BANNER.

It has been written previously that Penny selected the name from the movie ARROWHEAD, a film she had seen that starred Charlton Heston, one of her favorite actors. "Heston's name in the movie was Banner, and my mother had always called me Penny as a little girl. So I became Penny Banner from my second wrestling match."

She didn't know it at the time but when Penny joined a judo class at a YMCA, it was her first step toward a pro mat career and eventually national stardom. Sam

Muchnick, president of the National Wrestling Alliance saw Penny giving a judo demonstration on television and was impressed with what he saw. Muchnick called her the next day after seeing the blonde flip a few Marines who were also on the TV show. The NWA President gave Penny a letter to Billy Wolfe, who ran an all-girl wrestling school in Columbus, Ohio, and she was on her way. And she was starting with the right man as Wolfe had been instrumental in the careers of the likes of Mildred Burke, Juanita Coffman, Therese Thies, Mae Weston and The Fabulous Moolah.

When asked how long it took in training before she was assigned her first wrestling match, Penny replied, "When I first began training, Mr. Wolfe told me it usually took about six to nine months of serious conditioning before any girl got her first chance. But with my judo and physical education experience, I got the green light after one week."

As she gained experience, Penny sharpened her skills and rolled up an impressive string of wins while campaigning through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Carolinas. Girl wrestling is very popular in these areas. She continued her march over some of the top female performers in the country and sought a match with June Byers, who had succeeded Mildred Burke as the NWA women's champion. "It started that Byers was taking on all comers, and I made up my mind that this was my big chance. I walked into the ring in Columbus one night and challenged her. She accepted my challenge." Penny surprised a lot of people that night by taking the highly-touted Texas lass to a ten-minute time limit draw. A later match for the title saw Byers winning the first fall, Penny the second, and time expiring before the third fall could begin.

June Byers was the victim of a serious automobile accident shortly after her last match with Penny and forced to retire. Banner then teamed up with Bonnie Watson for tag events and were highly successful until romance broke up the duo when Bonnie married. Betty Hawkins became Penny's partner, and they won the Western Canada girls' tag title and were undefeated for two years. Betty then married, and Penny was forced to again find a new partner. She was Lorraine Johnson. Together, they won the Women's World Tag Title in St. Joseph, Missouri and had a long winning streak until Cupid entered the picture again. But this time it was Penny who married...a popular Indianapolis wrestler, Johnny Weaver. The two would later have a daughter, Wendi, who at six months of age made Banner think differently about her career. "My wrestling schedule was keeping me away from Wendi and Johnny. Being a wrestler was thrilling but my family was more important to me."

As Wendi grew up, Penny and Johnny switched their home from St. Louis to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Johnny made his wrestling home. Penny wrestled a limited schedule, finding the balance between her career and being a good wife and mother.

When time permits, the Weaver clan enjoy golf and bowling plus Johnny's penchant for watching Sunday sports on TV and a good game of cards. Penny and Wendi, now twelve, love horses and are excellent riders. They own quarter horses not far from their home and compete in numerous shows in the Charlotte area. They have a roomful of ribbons and trophies in their home which they have won competing.

Penny enjoys simple tastes in cooking vegetables, mashed potatoes, roast beef, stuffed peppers and sauerkraut. She also believes every woman should take good care of their bodies. "Our bodies are like a house. If we take care of it, it will take care of us. I like to work out three times a week." Banner has had her share of injuries over the years, including a bad knee which is one of her main weaknesses right now. It has been dislocated five times with ligament and tendon damage.

But for now, Penny will continue to wrestle when she wants. And why not? Penny Banner still rates high among the top ten female wrestlers in the world today.

Taken from WRESTLING REVUE, January 1974 and written by GENE GORDON.

HAWK and HANSON issue a challenge...

2010-05-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

May 14, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

44 Years Ago

Popular cowboy TEX McKENZIE is the subject of dispute by RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON after they lost last week's wrestling feature here to GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER.

HAWK claims that McKENZIE shoved WEAVER into position for the winning fall, and the "BLONDE BOMBERS" are so angry at the cowboy for his "illegal participation" that they have challenged lanky TEX and his swift-moving buddy NELSON ROYAL to meet them in tonight's LEXINGTON YMCA main wrestling event.

The Texas duo agreed willingly to the HAWK and HANSON challenge, pointing to a scorcher of a two-of-three-falls match.

"We're going to have to teach McKENZIE a lesson about sticking his nose in someone else's business. He had no right getting involved in our match last Saturday, and he's going to learn the lesson the hard way...a good old whipping," said RIP HAWK.

Two winners from last week, IKE EAKINS and GORY GUERRERO, will meet in the evening's semifinal encounter.

Two additional singles matches, featuring top wrestling stars, will open the card at 8:15.

DYKES' INFERNOS duo faces SCOTT BROTHERS

2010-05-10T05:41:00.000-07:00

May 11, 1968

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

42 Years Ago

"THE FLYING SCOTTS," GEORGE and SANDY, have decided that it's time someone puts an end to the destruction caused by the masked duo of THE INFERNOS.

And they will get their chance tonight when the SCOTT BROTHERS meet THE INFERNOS in the middle of the ring in the headline wrestling contest at the LEXINGTON YMCA.

THE INFERNOS, the bullies managed by J.C. DYKES, have been causing lots of problems for lots of wrestlers since coming to this wrestling area. DYKES is one problem, constantly interferring in his men's matches. The other is the controversial wrestling boot worn by one of the masked men. Many wrestlers are claiming that there is something, other than a foot, in that boot.

GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT are cautiously optimistic about tonight's two-out-of-three falls match. "These guys wear masks, keeping their true identities secret. We don't know why. But we have to admit that these men are great wrestlers. Add in their constant rule breaking, and DYKES' involvement in their matches...it's going to be tough. But we face tough teams all the time. We'll be ready. And who knows, maybe we'll get an opportunity to get our hands on that boot and maybe even find out who these INFERNOS are by removing their masks. We're sure going to give it our best."

Another best-of-three falls tag match sends the popular duo of THE AMAZING ZUMA and LES THATCHER against tough BULL JOHNSON and Russia's NIKITA MULKOVICH.

A favorite of the wrestling fans, BOB NANDOR meets rugged veteran JOHNNY HEIDEMAN.

JACK RICO challenges local star SONNY FARGO in the 8:15 opening contest.

TEXAS ROYAL IN STATESVILLE TOWN...

2010-05-07T07:30:00.001-07:00

May 20, 1965

STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

45 Years Ago...

and I was there...

CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE

OUTDOOR WRESTLING AT ITS FINEST...

2010-05-04T05:18:00.000-07:00

May 4, 1966

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

---

44 Years Ago

Three Charlotte newcomers are on the big outdoor wrestling card tonight at MEMORIAL STADIUM, promoter JIM CROCKETT has announced.

The three debuting are all billed in the preliminary matches to the RUSSIAN CHAIN MATCH, which serves as the main event.

Big man KLONDIKE BILL, who is scientific-minded (but can rough it up when necessary), meets the rugged, tough villain IKE EAKINS.

BRUISER MORGAN, another of the first-timers, tangles with "Flying" SANDY SCOTT.

The third to make his debut will be promising young BOBBY SHANE, who tries out the experience of EL GAUCHO.

All are set for one fall.

The main event brings together BORIS "THE GREAT" MALENKO and fan favorite GEORGE SCOTT in a RUSSIAN CHAIN MATCH.

These men, bitter enemies, are shackled at the wrists by a six-foot length of chain and battle each other until one can drag the other around the ring twice. The normal falls do not count in this match. Chain matches are usually extremely brutal and bloody, and both men stand a good chance of spending the night in a hospital emergency room.

The SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP goes on the line tonight when THE MISSOURI MAULER climbs into the ring to face KARL GOTCH.

THE MAULER is the defending champion but has met few battlers of GOTCH's calliber. They'll go at it for the best-of-three falls with a one-hour time limit.

LUTHER LINDSEY, the North Carolina tussler, who is regarded as the best of the Negro wrestlers working today, joins forces with GEORGE "CATALINA" DRAKE to test BRONCHO LUBICH and ALDO BOGNI in tag team warfare. Of course, HOMER O'DELL, the slimy manager of LUBICH and BOGNI, will be in his men's corner.

Action begins at 8:15 and will continue under the stars.

OH BROTHERS, WHERE ART THOU?

2010-05-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

May 3, 1969

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

---

41 Years Ago

Two of professional wrestling's highest ranked and rowdiest tag teams will collide head-on in a super BATTLE OF THE BULLIES match tonight at the LEXINGTON YMCA.

Brothers GENE and OLE ANDERSON, the MINNESOTA WRECKING CREW, will meet RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON, the BLONDE BOMBERS.

Despite the ANDERSON's combined weight of 492 pounds, HANSON at 285 and HAWK at 231 will have a weight advantage. As for wrestling ability, toughness and rulebreaking, the two teams would be a photo-finish. It's a two-of-three falls explosion with a one-hour time limit.

Two other leading brother teams, swift roughnecks JIMMY and BILLY HINES and the spectacular FLYING SCOTTS, GEORGE and SANDY, meet in another two-out-of-three falls contest.

The SCOTTS will be trying to break a win streak established by the pesky HINES boys, who at one time terrorized this area as THE MASKED RED DEMONS.

The veteran BULLDOG LEE HENNING meets the popular youngster BILLY SPEARS, and tough guy ROCK HUNTER takes on fan favorite GREG PETERSON in two supporting matches.

Action begins at 8:15 p.m.

BECKER DEMANDS REMATCH!

2010-04-28T05:40:00.000-07:00

April 28, 1962

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

---

48 Years Ago

A rematch between two top rivals, along with the debut of a world famous Oriental team, features professional wrestling tonight at the LEXINGTON YMCA.

Fan favorite GEORGE BECKER has demanded another crack at the tough Mexican PANCHO VILLA after losing a disputed verdict here last Saturday.

One provision is that referees be changed, and BECKER must approve the new referee. VILLA says referees make no difference to him, and that he will be victorious again tonight. Two-of-three falls will settle it.

The Oriental team debuting tonight is comprised of P. Y. CHUNG of China and TARO MYAKI of Japan, the only Chinese / Japanese team working together in wrestling today. They will face heroes JERRY CHRISTY and ANGELO MARTINELLI in the two-out-of-three falls co-feature.

Action begins at 8:15 with REGGIE PARKS tangling with GYPSY JOE.

BEAT HIM ANY WAY YOU CAN AND HE UNMASKS!

2010-04-24T10:58:00.001-07:00

April 22, 1963

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

---

47 Years Ago

Special terms will be in effect tonight when CHIEF BIG HEART and THE GREAT BOLO are rematched again in a wrestling feature at the LEXINGTON YMCA.

THE GREAT BOLO, wrestling's hooded menace, has agreed, for this match only, to remove his mask in the ring if he loses the match, no matter how it might happen.

Last Saturday, he lost his second match within a month to the big Indian, but again through a disqualification.

BIG HEART was busted open during the melee, and BOLO's yellow mask was stained red, himself cut badly.

In the past, BOLO has agreed to unmask if he lost two falls by pinfall or submission, and that's it. Tonight, it will be different, and the best-of-three falls match has a NO DISQUALIFICATION clause added anyway.

However, if BOLO is counted out of the ring, that would constitute losing a fall, and the mask must come off.

"I know I am a better wrestler than this Indian. He's a tough competitor, I'll give him that, but no one is a better wrestler than I am," shouted THE GREAT BOLO. "I am that confident of a victory that I have baited the CHIEF back into the ring by putting my mask on the line if he can beat me two falls in any manner. He can't and I'll prove it. It's probably the last chance for the wrestling fans to see the Indian wrestler, because I'm going to hurt the man really bad."

ANGELO MARTINELLI and BOB BOYER, a new winning tag team, will meet TERRY GARVIN and MARK STONE in a two-out-of-three falls semifinal.

Other matches send JACK BERNARD against European star BOB NANDOR, and CHARLIE LAYE will face JACK MARSHALL.

Belltime is 8;15.

A LOT OF BEEF...

2010-04-21T06:47:00.000-07:00

April 21, 1962

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

---

48 Years Ago

Fan favorite GEORGE BECKER will be back at the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight in wrestling action.

The popular BECKER will meet the rough and tough PANCHO VILLA, the Mexican with an impressive winning record in the business, in the evening's headliner. Bad blood already exists between these two, and the two-out-of-three falls battle is expected to be a wild one.

HAYSTACK CALHOUN, the world's largest professional wrestler, returns to town and will meet the rugged SWEDE HANSON in the semi-final best-of-three falls contest.

Negro girl wrestlers, SWEET GEORGIA BROWN and DIANA BEAMON, meet in a special event.

The 8:15 opening match sends REGGIE PARKS against "JUDO" JACK TERRY.

WE HAVE THEM WHERE WE WANT THEM!

2010-04-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

April 19, 1965

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

---

45 Years Ago

HAYSTACK CALHOUN, the mountain that walks like a man, returns to Charlotte tonight, and GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER couldn't be happier.

CALHOUN, BECKER and WEAVER will team up in a SIX MAN TAG TEAM LUMBERJACK MATCH at the CHARLOTTE COLISEUM to attempt to, once and for all, put an end to the terrifying threesome of BRONCHO LUBICH, ALDO BOGNI and their manager HOMER O'DELL.

Ten wrestlers have been assigned to station themselves around the ring while the main event action is going on. Should any member of either team try to leave the ring area or be thrown from it, the ten lumberjacks have orders to pitch the combatants back into the melee. It isn't likely any member of the CALHOUN / BECKER / WEAVER trio will do any running. In fact, these three want to stay in the ring with the villainous trio as much as possible. They seldom get the opportunity to get their hands on the slippery O'DELL, who is usually causing trouble in tuxedo attire (and cane) outside the ring.

In tonight's best-of-three falls contest, O'DELL will be a participant in wrestling attire. There's a 60-minute time limit for the match, with a NO DISQUALIFICATION stipulation in effect.

Another tag team match on the card will send two of the baldest and meanest men in the wrestling business, BRUTE BERNARD and SKULL MURPHY, against the rugged team of THE ALASKAN and THE BEAST in a two-out-of-three falls "Battle of the Bullies" clash.

One could toss a coin to determine which of these two rule-breaking teams is the more vicious. Many fans are hoping the two duos will destroy each other, so the wrestling business won't have to deal with either of them any longer.

A fantastic JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS supporting card will underline this giant professional wrestling spectacular, which gets underway at 8:15 p.m.

Tickets can be obtained at the COLISEUM box office or the NATIONAL HAT SHOP in downtown Charlotte.

SOME FAMILIAR FACES...

2010-04-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

DUSTY RHODES

(that's HARLEY RACE in the headlock)

NELSON ROYAL

KLONDIKE BILL

THE ASSASSIN

JODY HAMILTON

HARLEY RACE

BARON VON RASCHKE

ABE JACOBS

MEET HOMER O'DELL'S NEW TAG TEAM...

2010-04-12T12:38:00.001-07:00

April 13, 1963

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

---

47 Years Ago

The immensely popular tag team of GEORGE BECKER and BILLY TWO RIVERS returns to the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight to battle the rugged villainous duo of ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH in the two-out-of-three falls main event that headlines this week's wrestling card.

BECKER and TWO RIVERS are well-known as a team. The LUBICH and BOGNI combo is a fairly new combination but has been very successful since teaming up. Perhaps part of that success is due to manager HOMER O'DELL, who is always in the corner of the bullies.

GEORGE and BILLY will have to keep their eyes on O'DELL, as well as BOGNI and LUBICH, as the tuxedoed manager tends to become involved in his men's matches. And that wooded cane he carries has found its mark on opponents' noggins.

Asheboro's own rising wrestling star, LARRY HULIN, faces a tough test when he meets big SWEDE HANSON in the week's best-of-three fall semifinal encounter.

In the night's prelim matches, JOHNNY "RUBBERMAN" WALKER meets rough JAN MADRID, and DOUG KINSLOW squares off against MARK STONE in the 8:15 opener.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP IS AT STAKE...

2010-04-08T05:32:00.000-07:00

April 8, 1967

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

---

43 Years Ago

The SOUTHERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP is on the line tonight when the current title holder, THE MISSOURI MAULER, defends against the former champ, KLONDIKE BILL, in the headline match at the LEXINGTON YMCA.

KLONDIKE, the popular Alaskan, is out to regain the title from the MAULER, the man he first lifted it from a few months ago.

The MAULER managed to regain the belt from BILL recently under a dark cloud of controversy. KLONDIKE says that justice will prevail tonight in LEXINGTON. The title match is under stipulations of a one-hour time limit with the winner gaining two falls out of three.

The torrid Texan team of cowboys TEX McKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL will have their hands full when they meet big and rugged "Apache" BULL RAMOS and the mysterious masked grappler THE MUMMY. This best-of-three falls co-feature should produce plenty of action.

In single matches, the mammoth HAYSTACK CALHOUN returns to the YMCA to meet rough PEDRO GODOY.

Popular GREG PETERSON squares off against FRANK MARCONI in the 8:15 opening match.