A fond look back at the great days of JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS professional wrestling.
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Saturday, December 24, 2022
Saturday, December 17, 2022
WEAVER battles FUNK for the GOLD
From February 1, 1971 thru April 10, 1972, one of the all-time greatest booking programs in JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS history unfolded.
JCP's top wrestler at the time JOHNNY WEAVER sought to capture the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP, held by Texan DORY FUNK JR.
The fourteen month series of matches occurred almost exclusively in Charlotte, North Carolina, with Texas and Florida an integral part of the program.
The fourteen month series of matches occurred almost exclusively in Charlotte, North Carolina, with Texas and Florida an integral part of the program.
Enjoy the following rare photos from this incredible series of matches...
The referee is Walter Buckner.
Friday, December 16, 2022
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Monday, December 5, 2022
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Monday, November 28, 2022
Sunday, November 20, 2022
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
THE MASKED AND UNMASKED INFERNOS
If anyone ever 'pinned me down' (pardon the pun) and made me 'cry uncle' as to who was my all-time favorite pro wrestling 'heel' team, I could have the hold released immediately by saying...
THE INFERNOS
with Mgr. J.C. DYKES
The original men behind the blue hoods were Frankie Cain and Roland 'Rocky' Smith. After a few years, Frankie left the team to become known as The Great Mephisto.
Filling the vacancy was Rocky's brother Curtis Smith.
Later, others would wear the masks before the official Infernos were done, and to this day, there are knock-off Infernos.
But none come close to the greatness as J.C. DYKES and his blue tigers, THE INFERNOS.
The original pairing of THE INFERNOS Rocky Smith and Frankie Cain (standing) J.C. Dykes (seated) |
Then came THE INFERNOS trio of Rocky Smith, J.C. Dykes, Curtis Smith |
Monday, November 14, 2022
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Monday, November 7, 2022
Saturday, November 5, 2022
Saturday, October 29, 2022
BASHIN' IN 1987 - THE END WAS NEAR
FLAIR and RHODES go at it again...
BIG BUBBA ROGERS throws BARRY WINDHAM for a loss.
JIM CROCKETT PROMOTIONS, into its sixth decade of operation, would soon be no more. The sale to TURNER ENTERTAINMENT was on the horizon.
In one of its final big programs, THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH was a month-long event, starting JULY 1 in Lakeland, Florida and ending July 31 at the ORANGE BOWL in Miami. But in-between these two Sunshine State shows, THE BASH journeyed as far west as Los Angeles and San Francisco, and north as Landover, Maryland. Cross-country shows were held in Chicago, Atlanta, Richmond, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma City, Baltimore, Charlotte, Greensboro, Norfolk, Richmond, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia and Cleveland, among others.
Friday, October 28, 2022
Thursday, October 27, 2022
1987 - BACK TO THE BASH
The sale of the company to TURNER ENTERTAINMENT was on the horizon.
In one of its final big programs, THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH was a month-long event, starting July 1 in Lakeland, Florida and ending July 31 at the Orange Bowl in Miami. But in-between these two Sunshine State shows, The BASH journeyed as far west as Los Angeles and San Francisco, and north as Landover, Maryland. Cross-country shows were held in Chicago, Atlanta, Richmond, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Oklahoma City, Baltimore, Charlotte, Greensboro, Norfolk, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia and Cleveland, among others.
Friday, October 21, 2022
A REMATCH IN LEXINGTON
March 19, 1966
LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
56 years ago
56 years ago
Texas wrestling buddies TEX McKENZIE and NELSON ROYAL have happily agreed to give the skin-headed duo of BRUTE BERNARD and SKULL MURPHY a rematch at the LEXINGTON YMCA tonight.
BERNARD and MURPHY have been howling 'robbery' because of the recent meeting of the two teams a few weeks ago here at the YMCA. These two are demanding satisfaction, so the return best-out-of-three falls rematch will feature tonight's all-star card.
'BIG' IKE EAKINS will face popular New Zealander ABE JACOBS in the evening's semi-final contest.
Girl wrestlers, both making their LEXINGTON debuts, will square off with JESSICA ROGERS meeting PRINCESS CHI CHI.
Good-looking STEVE BOLUS will combat 'ROWDY' RED ROBERTS in the 8:15 opening encounter.
Tuesday, October 18, 2022
Monday, October 10, 2022
Monday, October 3, 2022
TWO LEGENDARY CROCKETT TEAMS TANGLE
January 30, 1965
LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
Action galore is on tap for professional wrestling fans fortunate enough to attend
the big card tonight at the LEXINGTON YMCA starting at 8:15.
GEORGE and SANDY SCOTT, known world-wide as THE FLYING SCOTTS, and victorious here last Saturday, will face long-time rivals RIP HAWK and SWEDE HANSON, wrestling's BLONDE BOMBERS, in the featured two-out-of-three-falls main event.
A top semifinal match is scheduled with popular young JOHNNY WEAVER taking on rugged ex-footballer MIKE PAIDOUSUS.
Two other singles matches will round out the program when Indian star CHIEF BIG HEART faces MIKE VALENTINO *, and TONY NERO will face a newcomer to Lexington when he squares off against THE ALASKAN (JAY YORK).