HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Actually, today isn't my birthday. It isn't for five more months.

However, while doing some research at our local public library, I came across some clippings going back to 1979. Difficult to believe that it's been forty years.

My birthday is September 9th, so when I saw the ad in the SALISBURY POST stating that MID-ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING was returning to SALISBURY, N.C. the night before my natal anniversary, I thought to myself, "What a great birthday present!"

So, two friends and I (along with about another thousand people) headed to the baseball park at CATAWBA COLLEGE for the show.

The ring was set up at home plate, with ringside seats (folded metal chairs) set up all around. Naturally, we were at ringside.

Here's the card.

SALISBURY POST, September 8, 1979

A professional wrestling card, featuring two main events, will be held tonight at Newman Park. Action will begin at 8:15 o'clock.

The features will send BLACKJACK MULLIGAN against JOHN STUDD and JIM BRUNZELL against KEN PATERA.

MULLIGAN, 285 pounds of Eagle Pass, Texas, holds the UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. STUDD weighs in at 330 pounds.

PATERA is a native of Portland, Oregon, and weighs 300 pounds. He is a former U.S. heavyweight champion and OLYMPIC weightlifting champion. BRUNZELL, a relative newcomer to the MID-ATLANTIC area, is a 230 pounder.

A tag bout will match 'SPECIAL DELIVERY' JONES and BOB MARCUS against BRUTE BERNARD and SGT. JACQUES GOULET.

DON KERNODLE will meet DAVID PATTERSON.

A women's battle will send BARBARA MARTIN against VICKI WILLIAMS.

The program is sponsored by the SOUTHERN ROWAN EMERGENCY RADIO SERVICE, and proceeds will go to the SOUTHERN ROWAN CHRISTMAS PARADE.

THE RESULTS

It wasn't my most memorable live wrestling experience by any means. I was never a big fan of either STUDD or BRUNZELL.

But having BLACKJACK and BRUTE BERNARD in town, even for only a few hours, was neat. By 1979, I had loved watching BRUTE work for nearly fifteen years, and I had been in JACK's corner (either 'babyface' or 'heel') since he came to JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS.

It was a good birthday.