Mike Cline's MID-ATLANTIC GRAPPLIN' GREATS
A fond look back at the great days of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS professional wrestling.
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
BIG CARD IN LEXINGTON
May 24, 1969
LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
57 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.
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Monday, June 22, 2026
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Saturday, June 20, 2026
RIP AND SWEDE FACE DEMONS
October 1, 1966
LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
with GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS
A BATTLE OF THE BULLIES features professional wrestling tonight at the LEXINGTON YMCA with super roughnecks RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON going against the rowdy duo of THE MASKED RED DEMONS.
Both teams are known for their rough natures and lack of respect for the rules, and meeting each other tonight should pack quite a wallop. Fans who like it rough and tough should really get into this two-out-of-three falls battle.
Girl wrestlers will meet in a special one-fall event with the area's foremost female grappler, PENNY BANNER, meeting newcomer TAMMY JONES. Scouting reports on Miss JONES suggest she sometimes acts very unlady-like.
Popular and speedy BOBBY SHANE goes against the heavyweight veteran GEORGE 'TWO TON' HARRIS, and sometimes SHANE partner, PAUL DEMARCO, meets a tough one in the likes of 'BIG BOY' BLONDELL in supporting matches.
Friday, June 19, 2026
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
THE 1966 STATESVILLE, NC SUMMER OF WRESTLING
September 2, 1966
STATESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA



The third and final JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS wrestling show of the summer, again sponsored by the COMMUNITY BASEBALL CLUB, came to town Labor Day weekend.
And what a treat for the locals...a true legend in all sports...LOU THESZ, multiple-time WORLD'S HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.
On this night, THESZ, then fifty years of age, showed those of us in attendance, that he could still go at full throttle.
And he and partner ABE "Kiwi Roll" JACOBS would have their hands full, as their opponents this night were two devious ruffians in THE MISSOURI MAULER and THE GREAT MALENKO, one of the top heel teams at the time.
Not surprisingly, the two combos split the first and second falls. Jacobs took the loss for his team--no way Thesz is going to lose a fall clean. At the climax of the third fall, just as Thesz took the "hot tag" and was cleaning up the ring with the "M & M" boys, Malenko pulled the referee in front of him, and Thesz drop kicked the referee, causing an immediate disqualification.
MAULER and MALENKO made a fast exit through their dugout to their dressing room, and I assume, spun out of the Statesville Senior High School parking lot heading back for Charlotte on that pre-Interstate 77 highway night.
Earlier in the evening, KLONDIKE BILL, getting a major push by JCP, took the toll of GEORGE "TWO TON" HARRIS in what was billed as a BATTLE OF THE MAT GIANTS by big-splashing "Bunk" before "Bunk" could big splash him. Oh well, "do unto others..."
Veteran IKE EAKINS crushed KEN HOLLIS and a young BOBBY SHANE (just getting started in the wrestling business) pinned a much-larger "BIG BOY" BLONDELL.
Another great crowd...another great night...another great summer of wrestling in my home town.
Monday, June 15, 2026
Sunday, June 14, 2026
SOMETIMES YA WIN...SOMETIMES YA DON'T
Results from JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS shows of the past...
RALEIGH, N.C. - 1968
JOHNNY WEAVER and HIRO MATSUDA wrestled to a draw
GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT defeated THE INFERNOS with J.C. DYKES
TERRY and RONNIE GARVIN topped BOB NANDOR and JESSE JAMES
ALEX MEDINA lost to 'BULLDOG' LEE HENNING
JOHNNY WEAVER and HIRO MATSUDA wrestled to a draw
GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT defeated THE INFERNOS with J.C. DYKES
TERRY and RONNIE GARVIN topped BOB NANDOR and JESSE JAMES
ALEX MEDINA lost to 'BULLDOG' LEE HENNING
ROANOKE, VA. - 1969
GENE KINISKI defended the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP successfully beating PAUL JONES
NELSON ROYAL, GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT topped THE INFERNOS and J.C. DYKES in six man action
THE MATADOR whipped JACK RICE
JIM GRABMIRE and JESSE JAMES wrestled to a draw
-
CHARLESTON, W.V. - 1969
RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON versus SAM STEAMBOAT and MR. WRESTLING ended in a double DQ
EL GAUCHO and LEON BAXTER topped BOB RAMSTEAD and JESSE JAMES
TINKER TODD lost to ROCK HUNTER
BOBBY KAY beat TONY NERO
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - 1969
SAILOR ART THOMAS, GEORGE BECKER and JOHNNY WEAVER won over HIRO MATSUDA, THE MISSOURI MAULER and HOMER O'DELL in six man action
GENE and OLE ANDERSON bested ABE JACOBS and LES WOLFF
JESSE JAMES got by 'BULLDOG' LEE HENNING
BOB RAMSTEAD lost to EL GAUCHO
LORD LITTLEBROOK topped LITTLE BRUISER
THE AMAZING ZUMA beat LEON BAXTER
RALEIGH, N.C. - 1969
THE MISSOURI MAULER, HIRO MATSUDA and HOMER O'DELL won over SAILOR ART THOMAS, NELSON ROYAL and PAUL JONES
LES WOLFF wrestled SWEDE HANSON to a draw
BILLY HINES topped BILLY SPEARS
JIMMY HINES bested JESSE JAMES
RALEIGH, N.C. - 1970
NELSON ROYAL and PAUL JONES wrestled THE INFERNOS with J.C. DYKES to a draw
RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON topped ABE JACOBS and LES WOLFF
PANCHO VALDEZ lost to LUTHER LINDSAY
PEDRO VALDEZ beat PEPE GOMEZ
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