A fellow named JACK BRISCO

JACK BRISCO

September 21, 1941 – February 1, 2010

Born Freddie Joe Brisco, he grew up in Blackwell, Oklahoma with five siblings. He was followed by his younger brother, Gerald Brisco, into the sport of wrestling and turned down a football scholarship at University of Oklahoma to go to Oklahoma State. In 1965, he became the first Native American to win an NCAA National Championship.

Jack's first documented professional championship reign began on October 16, 1965, when he defeated DON KENT to win the NWA MISSOURI JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT title.

He also won his first tag team title in this promotion, teaming with HAYSTACK CALHOUN as co-holder of the NWA U.S. TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP.

BRISCO headed east to Florida in 1968. Here his career skyrocketed. Over the course of the next few years, JACK held virtually title in the Sunshine State.

BRISCO's first NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP began in Houston, Texas when he defeated HARLEY RACE on July 10, 1973. He wore the belt until losing to GIANT BABA on December 4, 1974, then regained the title four days later. JACK remained the champion until December 10, 1975 when he was defeated by TERRY FUNK.

I was thrilled when Ted Turner's independent CHARLOTTE TV station began carrying CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING FROM FLORIDA in the late 1960s. The first wrestler who jumped out of the screen at me was JACK BRISCO.

This young man was something special. He didn't have the look of many of the 'stereotypical' wrestlers of the day. Here was a nice-looking, clean-cut, college grad young man (there weren't many back then), and he could really go in the ring.

JACK soon began appearing in the MID-ATLANTIC territory on a limited basis. My first occasion to see JACK wrestle in person was August 4, 1969, when he teamed with MR. WRESTLING (TIM WOODS) to face THE GREAT BOLO and BOLO at the original CHARLOTTE COLISEUM.

Later, I was able to attend a CHARLOTTE PARK CENTER card when BRISCO battled THE MISSOURI MAULER (LARRY HAMILTON). There was also a night in the tiny hamlet of NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. that I witnessed JACK and JERRY BRISCO meet SGT. SLAUGHTER and DON KERNODLE. (This night, I believe, was also the final night of PAUL JONES' career as a full-time wrestler. PAUL was pinned on this card by TOMMY GILBERT--EDDIE's father. The next night in CHARLOTTE, PAUL was a manager.) 

During his tenure with JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS, JACK held the NWA EASTERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP twice, the MID-ATLANTIC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP four times and with his brother JERRY (or GERRY) the NWA WORLD TAG TEAM titles on three occassions. Fans today still remember the great title match with RICKY STEAMBOAT and JAY YOUNGBLOOD at STARRCADE '83.

A January, 1975 World title defense in GREENSBORO, N.C.

Few athletes have attained the honors and awards that JACK BRISCO has earned. From NCAA champion to NWA champion, BRISCO has worked throughout the world, entertaining fans of wrestling.

He certainly did that for me.

JACK BRISCO will always be at the top of my list, and I thank him for all of the many memories.

CHRISTMAS STOCKING STUFFERS

TWO GREAT MERCHANDISING OFFERS TOO GOOD TO PASS UP !

BE THE FIRST IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO TAKE ADVANTAGE !

LONG HAIR versus NO HAIR

November 21, 1964

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

Two of the biggest men in professional wrestling will collide with two of the roughest and most unpredictable men of the sport. The impact will be felt tonight at the LEXINGTON YMCA. Action begins at 8:15.

It will be THE KENTUCKIANS, TINY ANDERSON and BIG BOY BROWN, all 750 pounds of them, facing the skin-headed duo of BRUTE BERNARD and SKULL MURPHY in the two-out-of-three falls main event.

The big boys from the hills want to settle some old scores with the ruffians from Canada and Ireland. Encounters between the two teams in the past have been wild and wooly affairs.

While the tag team battle is the evening's bill of fare, there will be three singles matches as well.

BILL PARKS squares off against MARIO MILANO.

JESSE JAMES meets FRANK HICKEY.

The opener sends GEORGE GRANT against PAT O'BRIEN.

LEXINGTON LUMBERJACKS

September 10, 1966

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

53 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, JACOBS, HARRIS, BLONDELL, KENT and JEAN will serve as the six lumberjacks during the headliner.

The SCOTTS meet the FARGOS

June 25, 1960

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

World Championship Wrestling, literally, comes to the LEXINGTON YMCA this weekend when two famous brother tag teams battle in the feature contest on a four match card this Saturday evening.

GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT, recently crowned as the WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, will battle the rowdy blonde-headed JACKIE and SONNY FARGO in the best two-out-of-three falls main event.

The FARGO BROTHERS won the crack at the tag team title with their second straight victory over JERRY MILLER and HENRY PHILLIPS here last Saturday night.

The SCOTT BROTHERS, a popular duo of Canadians, wrestled the title away from BILL LONGSTON and THE MIGHTY ATLAS recently. The new champs are returning to LEXINGTON after a lengthy absence.

Two big stars, PAT O'HARA and MAN MOUNTAIN EVANS meet in this week's semi-final match.

JERRY MILLER will face RAY ANDREWS in one prelim, and the veteran CHUCK GARIBALDI takes on JIMMY SMITH in the 8:15 opening encounter.

The PROFILE meets the SUPER CHIEF

November 13, 1961

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

58 Years Ago

A resumption of the big feud between CHIEF BIG HEART and RIP HAWK headlines a four-bought wrestling program tonight at PARK CENTER.

The Indian chief and "The Profile" met last week in a strange bout that never even got started, officially, that is.

The two began fighting just as soon as both reached the ring, and the referee never rang the bell. Not being able to get the participants into the ring for their instructions, the official had no choice but to call it a NO CONTEST, even though HEART and HAWK beat each other to bloody pulps on the arena floor.

Falls count anywhere in the building for tonight's battle, so fighting outside the ring will be permitted. The man first to win two falls will be the winner.

The evening's tag team affair will send the popular duo of HENRY PHILLIPS and BILLY PARKS squaring off against the rugged masked combo of THE MEDICS. This one is set for the best-of-three falls within a 45-minute time limit.

DON McCLARITY heads up the prelim bouts in a scuffle with GYPSY JOE, and the 8:15 opener finds LENNY MONTANA facing TINKER TODD.

ALREADY 33 YEARS AGO

Where does the time go?

The BIGGEST night of MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING in my home town of SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA, had to have occurred JUNE 10, 1986 when JCP brought their top mat stars to town for a double TV taping at CATAWBA COLLEGE's GOODMAN GYMNASIUM.

The event was sponsored by the SALISBURY JAYCEES.

SALISBURY POST - JUNE 10, 1986

SALISBURY POST - JUNE 10, 1986

The line-up was stellar !

Appearing were RIC FLAIR, ARN ANDERSON, DUSTY RHODES, THE ROCK & ROLL EXPRESS, ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER, IVAN and NIKITA KOLOFF, 'CHIEF' WAHOO McDANIEL, THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS with JIM CORNETTE, MAGNUM T.A., TULLY BLANCHARD, RONNIE GARVIN, JIMMY 'BOOGIE WOOGIE MAN' VALIANT, GORGEOUS JIMMY GARVIN with PRECIOUS, MANNY 'RAGIN BULL' FERNANDEZ and enough 'jobbers' to fill out the two hours of television matches.

JOHNNY WEAVER was there as commentator, working with BOB CAUDLE.

SANDY SCOTT was there as the road agent.

Through 'connections' with some friends in the JAYCEES, I was able to work 'backstage'. Having a choice, I picked the 'heel' side.

I remember being totally intimidated by NIKITA KOLOFF (nothing he did to me -- he just looked like he wanted to be left alone. I complied.)

---

JIM CORNETTE was the nicest guy. We talked for a while. He was 'on' even when he was 'off'. BOBBY EATON was also very cordial.

As ARN ANDERSON was walking through the door into the gymnasium, he handed me his eyeglasses and said, "Will you hold onto these for me, please?" After his match (which was the TV main event -- he and RIC FLAIR against RICKY MORTON and ROBERT GIBSON), when he arrived back at the door, I was impressed that he thanked the SALISBURY policemen who had escorted him to and from the ring. I handed him back his glasses, and he said "Thanks so much. I appreciate it. I can't see a damn thing without them."

The unadvertised 'dark match' after the taping sessions were over was, incredibly, a TAPED FIST match between DUSTY RHODES and ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER!

I have to say it that on the 'bloodometer', it was the reddest match I had seen in years

The CATAWBA COLLEGE gymnasium was PACKED. The SALISBURY POST estimated the crowd as a minimum of 3000 people.

The four hundred ringside seats were SOLD OUT three weeks before the event.

The terms of the event with JCP were as follows: JCP received 90% of the box office, with the SALISBURY JAYCEES getting the remaining 10% and all concessions.

My JAYCEE friend who was in charge of the event and had gotten me in as 'STAFF', recently told me that he and SANDY SCOTT counted the box office receipts (several times). SANDY then did some paper work, then gave the JAYCEES their 10%.

The SALISBURY JAYCEES made a ton of money that night. Their cut of the ticket sales was substantial, and lots of hot dogs, popcorn, pizza and soft drinks were consumed by the crowd.

The event worked out so well with the local organization that my friend won the JAYCEES PROJECT OF THE YEAR award.

Below is an article written by STEVE PHILLIPS which appeared in the following day's SALISBURY POST:

DUSTY RHODES

ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER


THE ROCK & ROLL EXPRESS
RICKY MORTON and ROBERT GIBSON


IVAN and NIKITA KOLOFF

CROCKETT FANS HAD IT MADE

If you were a professional wrestling fan during the 1960s and / or 1970s, and happened to reside in the JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS territory known as the MID-ATLANTIC WRESTLING area, you were one lucky person!

Wrestling was HUGE almost everywhere in the U.S., and JCP was no exception.

Sooner or later, nearly every giant in the business (and I don't necessarily mean Andre), worked for the CROCKETT family, and MID-ATLANTIC fans were the recipients

of this good fortune.

I used to journey to Charlotte's PARK CENTER on Monday nights as frequently as I could, shell out a mere $2.00-$2.50 for a ringside seat and watch top wrestlers in top matches. Even adjusting for inflation, the $50.00-$75.00 needed for a ticket for the current wrestling product could not produce as much entertainment as those earlier times. The wrestlers knew how to work (and I don't mean just a select few). If a man couldn't work a good match, he made a quick exit from JCP. The booking was better, the matches were hotter and in those days, most of the fans 'believed'.

Perhaps I am a bit nostalgic, but how I wish I could turn back the clock so I could re-attend many of the shows I saw and see some I missed.

But, alas, time stands still for no one. So memories, photographs and what video footage is available will have to suffice.

I want a time machine for Christmas...

RIC FLAIR versus WAHOO McDANIEL

Their feud put FLAIR on the wrestling radar. He later owned the radar.

Tag Team action with DANNY MILLER, ART NELSON, SWEDE HANSON and CHUCK O'CONNOR (later JOHN STUDD).

GEORGE BECKER applies the 'abdominal stretch' to THE MISSOURI MAULER (LARRY HAMILTON).
Remember the days when the 'stretch' was a submission hold?

RIP HAWK versus ART NELSON

Boy, did these two have some brutal 'taped fist' matches.

In this photo, ART tries to rearrange RIP's 'profile'.

NELSON ROYAL sends SWEDE HANSON high in the sky with a backdrop.

These two men were two of the very best JCP fans ever saw.

BECKER and ROCCA

October 19, 1963

LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

GEORGE BECKER

JOHNNY 'RUBBERMAN' WALKER

ALDO BOGNI and BRONCHO LUBICH

HOMER O'DELL

JACK LANZA

ARGENTINA ROCCA

IKE EAKINS

---

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

Both BECKER and ROCCA, extremely popular with mat fans everywhere, are returning to LEXINGTON after long absences to meet HOMER O'DELL's rulebreaking duo. The match is set for the best two-of-three falls with a one hour time limit.

Two huge men will slug it out in tonight's semi-final match when big JACK LANZA * takes on rugged IKE EAKINS.

The Indian star, BOBBY RED CLOUD, makes his LEXINGTON debut tonight and will face ANGELO SAVOLDI in one of the prelimary matches.

Opening the card at 8:15 tonight will be the versatile JOHNNY 'RUBBERMAN' WALKER ** opposing the evil PRINCE OMAR.

* JACK LANZA later wrestled as BLACKJACK LANZA.

** JOHNNY 'RUBBERMAN' WALKER later wrestled as MR. WRESTLING 2.

FROM GRIDIRON TO GRAPPLING

CROCKETT WRESTLING fans of the late 1960s will remember LES WOLFF.

Often teamed with veteran New Zealander ABE JACOBS, Les worked single and tag team matches at mostly the mid-card level, occasionally some small town main events.

LES worked very well, and the fans really took to him. Ticket buyers always got their money's worth with WOLFF on the show.

Here's LES and a young fan.

TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE STAR

The Stars Came Out Every Night in the MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING territory...

DICK STEINBORN executes one of his legendary drop kicks.

LUTHER LINDSAY has PAMPERO FIRPO on the ropes.

HIRO MATSUDA strikes a nerve of BOBBY NICHOLS.

THE GREAT BOLO scores another victory.

ABE JACOBS submits to ALDO BOGNI's 'corkscrew' finisher.

Strongman KEN PATERA has the upper hand on his opponent.

A BATTLE FOR THE AGES

One of the prestigious titles in JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS was the EASTERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.

One of the biggest feuds over the Eastern title was between RIP 'The Profile' HAWK and JERRY BRISCO. On February 14, 1972, RIP defeated JERRY's older brother Jack Brisco, in Charlotte, N.C. to become Eastern Champion. RIP and Jack traded the belt back and forth before JERRY entered the title picture.

Champion RIP HAWK

Challenger JERRY BRISCO

June 13, 1972 was the date on which JERRY BRISCO became the EASTERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION for the first time. The match took place in Columbia, S.C. HAWK would win it back in Greenville, S.C. some two months later. This title reign for RIP would be a short one as the very next week, again in Greenville, JERRY would capture the championship again.

HAWK finished the year of 1972 on an upswing, beating BRISCO in Greensboro, N.C., on December 28th. The final title switch between the two occurred in early March, 1973 in Winston-Salem, N.C.

It should be noted that RIP HAWK is on record as saying BRISCO never won the title 'fair and square." RIP claims that JERRY would purposely get disqualified to keep from losing the belt. Even the two participant's partners offered opinions. Jack Brisco said "I've wrestled Hawk. He's cagey. He'll do anything to win a match. Jerry had better watch himself." And on the flip side, Rip's partner Swede Hanson had this to add,"Rip is an honorable man. Every fan of wrestling knows that. That's why the fans love Rip Hawk. He never breaks the rules."

HAWK would never get the EASTERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP back from BRISCO after the Winston-Salem match in March.

In September, 1973, the EASTERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP was retired and became the MID-ATLANTIC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.

Research for the EASTERN HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP by Dick Bourne for the MID-ATLANTIC GATEWAY.


RIP unloads on JERRY...

BRISCO gives 'THE PROFILE' a backdrop.

JERRY almost cries 'uncle' with this hammerlock.

Do I see RIP pulling JERRY's trunks?

And Swede said that Rip never broke the rules!