Mike Cline's MID-ATLANTIC GRAPPLIN' GREATS
A fond look back at the great days of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS professional wrestling.
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Saturday, August 15, 2026
BOILING POINT
January 21, 1963
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
63 Years Ago

The stage is set for one of the biggest matches in the history of Charlotte professional wrestling since its debut here thirty years ago. And tonight's the night.
This match, which has building to a climax for several months now, pits the team of THE GREAT BOLO and BOLO against THE KENTUCKIANS, BIG BOY BROWN and TINY ANDERSON.
Special rules have been set for this match to insure that the BOLO team does not duck and run as they did at PARK CENTER two weeks ago. Ten wrestlers will be stationed around the ring to keep all four participants within the roped boundaries. THE KENTUCKIANS, the big fan favorites, will have two-out-of-three falls and one hour to not only defeat the hooded villains, but to unmask them and reveal their identities to the huge crowd which is expected to be in attendance.
"In the wrestling business, we call this a LUMBERJACK MATCH," said promoter JIM CROCKETT as time grows near for the big event. "No one will be able to escape if things aren't going their way."
A gigantic undercard is set for tonight's CHARLOTTE COLISEUM scene of the big showdown.
GEORGE BECKER and BILLY TWO RIVERS head it up, going against big IKE EAKINS and rugged PANCHO VILLA in the best-of-three falls semi-final tag team contest.
In single fall bouts scheduled, popular young JOHNNY WEAVER faces the Oriental villain P.Y. CHUNG.
LUTHER LINDSAY takes on EDDIE GOLD.
JOHNNY "RUBBERMAN" WALKER clashes with Japan's HOSHINO SATO.
And to add even more excitement, PENNY BANNER will face BRENDA SCOTT in a special ladies event.
A huge crowd is expected at the CHARLOTTE COLISEUM tonight, but as of press time, there were some good seats still available, according to CROCKETT.
The starting time tonight is 8:15 sharp.
Friday, August 14, 2026
Thursday, August 13, 2026
SEE YOU AT RINGSIDE
November 25, 1967
LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
59 Years Ago

The wild man from the Pampas, PAMPERO FIRPO, and his rugged tag team partner, THE MISSOURI MAULER, will be out to halt the winning streak of the popular Indian duo of BOBBY RED CLOUD and CHIEF LITTLE EAGLE in tonight's wrestling main event at the LEXINGTON YMCA.
The Indians have been on the warpath lately with victories over highly-touted teams and have built up a loyal following. Their opponents tonight are extremely rough and powerful, and the best-of-three falls contest should be loaded with action.
"Back to the reservation to make moccasins," THE MISSOURI MAULER predicts. "When Mr. FIRPO and I are finished with them, their squaws will have to nurse them both back to health."
Another two-out-of-three falls tag encounter pits two new combinations against one another. Popular LES THATCHER joins RUDY KAYE to face "BULLDOG" LEE HENNING and the mysterious masked wrestler THE MUMMY.
TINY MILLS, a big operator, meets popular Negro star LUTHER LINDSAY, and young ALEX MEDINA takes on newcomer CHUCK STANLEY in the singles matches of the evening.
Bell time is 8:15.
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Monday, August 10, 2026
Sunday, August 9, 2026
THE HAWK AND HANSON FAN CLUB
The tag team combination of RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON was a duo wrestling fans loved to hate. And then again, many fans just loved them.
I was one of those fans. Another was a young man named ROCK RIDDLE. ROCK was much more ambitious than I. He started a HAWK / HANSON fan club and actually had a convention for his 'BLONDE BOMBER' heroes (maybe more than one), and 'The Profile' attended.

The meeting shall come to order (ROCK is at bottom left).
RIP and SWEDE taking care of business.
The 'BLONDE BOMBERS' actually being besieged by autograph seekers. (HAWK and HANSON were getting ready to wrestle THE MISSOURI MAULER and HIRO MATSUDA, so maybe that's why.)Young ROCK RIDDLE grew up and became a professional wrestler.
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Friday, August 7, 2026
RIP AND ROCK WANT THE BOLOS
December 10, 1962
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
64 Years Ago

A rematch of the tag team bout between two rowdy combos, THE GREAT BOLO and BOLO and RIP HAWK and ROCK HUNTER, headlines tonight's wrestling card at PARK CENTER.
The two teams collided last Monday night, with HAWK and HUNTER receiving a disqualification loss for going beyond the rule limitations allowed. RIP and ROCK apparently entered the ring with that intention, and maybe were willing to take the DQ in order to wreck havoc on THE BOLOs, which they did. When the BOLOs exited the ring, one was a bloody mess, and the other's mask was ripped half-way off his head.
HAWK and HUNTER have vowed they will finish the job tonight, and the reign of terror of THE BOLOs will be over. This week's two-out-of-three falls match, however, will be fought under a NO DISQUALIFICATION stipulation, meaning either team can do virtually anything they choose without risk of penalty.
In the evening's other tag battle, GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT, both winners in individual competition last Monday, are reunited as "THE FLYING SCOTTS" when they collide with IKE EAKINS and PANCHO VILLA in a best-of-three falls encounter.
Single actions finds popular JOHNNY WEAVER facing BILL PARKS and RAY VILLMER battling FELIX LAMBAN.
Action begins at 8:15.
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