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Getbig Misc Discussion Boards => Wrestling Board => Topic started by: Montague on June 07, 2011, 03:20:15 PM
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North Carolina was such a “wrestling town” years ago, and has such a rich history.
I’m thinking of starting a thread (or, you can do it) devoted to NC-based wrestling, and I’d like you guys to head it up.
Any stories,
Info,
Memories,
Footage,
Backstage stuff,
Personal encounters/experiences…
It’s up to you guys; it’ll be your thread.
I’ve always been fascinated with the Carolinas (even beyond wrestling), but my knowledge is very limited to what you guys have experienced.
Think it over.
I hope you’ll do it!
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Go for it.
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This is right up Big Ole and Showstoppa's alley :)
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This is right up Big Ole and Showstoppa's alley :)
Absolutely!
Of course, anyone is welcomed to weigh in with comments & questions; in fact - I have one…
Does Flair and/or Steamboat still own any gyms in and around the Charlotte area?
(http://cdn3.iofferphoto.com/img/item/163/271/615/efsT7aeTBklaosE.jpg)
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I could have sworn that Lugar & Sting owned a gym. I think in Atlanta.
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I could have sworn that Lugar & Sting owned a gym. I think in Atlanta.
Correct.
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OLE BIG lived in and worked out at that gym in Atl. He can fill you guys in on it.
As far as a I know Flair doesn't own anymore Gold's gyms. He sold them a few years back with one of the problems being that they didn't want to allow him to call it Ric Flair's Golds Gym, or something like that. I belonged to one of them in Hickory, NC at one time.
As for stories about NC and wrestling, I could go on forever about it. Is there anything in particular you guys want to hear/know about?
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As far as a I know Flair doesn't own anymore Gold's gyms. He sold them a few years back with one of the problems being that they didn't want to allow him to call it Ric Flair's Golds Gym, or something like that. I belonged to one of them in Hickory, NC at one time.
Okay.
I’d come across some info about the Hickory location a while back.
I believe there was a problem with Flair not paying the last month’s salary to the employees before selling the place, and Flair defending himself by insisting he was NOT the site manager at the time.
LOL!!!
As for stories about NC and wrestling, I could go on forever about it. Is there anything in particular you guys want to hear/know about?
Whatever you want; there doesn’t have to be any rhyme or reason to it.
It’s your thread.
You’re the experts.
I‘m just a jabroni, here!
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OLE BIG lived in and worked out at that gym in Atl. He can fill you guys in on it.
As far as a I know Flair doesn't own anymore Gold's gyms. He sold them a few years back with one of the problems being that they didn't want to allow him to call it Ric Flair's Golds Gym, or something like that. I belonged to one of them in Hickory, NC at one time.
As for stories about NC and wrestling, I could go on forever about it. Is there anything in particular you guys want to hear/know about?
Have you ever seen the Road Warriors train? I would luv to know what kind of poundages these guys heaved in a gym.
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OLE BIG lived in and worked out at that gym in Atl. He can fill you guys in on it.
As far as a I know Flair doesn't own anymore Gold's gyms. He sold them a few years back with one of the problems being that they didn't want to allow him to call it Ric Flair's Golds Gym, or something like that. I belonged to one of them in Hickory, NC at one time.
As for stories about NC and wrestling, I could go on forever about it. Is there anything in particular you guys want to hear/know about?
Have you known anyone that claimed to or actually did ride space mountain?
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Okay.
I’d come across some info about the Hickory location a while back.
I believe there was a problem with Flair not paying the last month’s salary to the employees before selling the place, and Flair defending himself by insisting he was NOT the site manager at the time.
LOL!!!
Whatever you want; there doesn’t have to be any rhyme or reason to it.
It’s your thread.
You’re the experts.
I‘m just a jabroni, here!
I thougth the Hickory gym was Arn's?
I think Gold's sued Flair for using his name. When I went to his gym, everything had his name as well as Gold's. Of course I spent a lot. I could not see what the problem was. And Ric said he appreciated it. ;D
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Have you known anyone that claimed to or actually did ride space mountain?
No. But looking back, he was extremely friendly to my mom one night when was saw him after a match in my hometown when I was very young. Good thing he didn't try to hard, my dad would have put an end to Space Mounain that very night.
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No. But looking back, he was extremely friendly to my mom one night when was saw him after a match in my hometown when I was very young. Good thing he didn't try to hard, my dad would have put an end to Space Mounain that very night.
Lol...not if he had Arn, Tully and Ole with him ;D
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Lol...not if he had Arn, Tully and Ole with him ;D
I am dating myself, but that was way before the Horsemen days. Valentine was with him though. I would have taken my dad in a cage against either one, although I know Valentine would be tough to handle. I'm sure my old man would have had a few reserves to call in had they wanted to make it a tag-team match.
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The cool thing about that was, at the time, it was one of the few gas stations in town and it was on the way out. Each time wrestling was in town, we would head straight to the station. Most everyone would stop, and most were pretty friendly. I saw Mulligan, Flair, Steamboat, Valentine, Piper, Whatley, and many others. Blackjack was absolutely huge. The guy that ran the station was six five, about three hundred pounds, and he said the only time he ever felt small in his life was when Jack walked in.
Ivan Koloff was the only jerk I ever met there. From what I have gathered later on, I think he just didn't want to break kayfabe. I really respect him for that now!
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I am dating myself, but that was way before the Horsemen days. Valentine was with him though. I would have taken my dad in a cage against either one, although I know Valentine would be tough to handle. I'm sure my old man would have had a few reserves to call in had they wanted to make it a tag-team match.
Valentine was tough as nails. A good worker too.
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haha, funny thread so far. I do know a female that Flair attempted to pick-up at a bar in Asheville, but it was much later than his truly wild partying days...mid 90's I think. She knew her brother was a huge wrestling fan from back in the day and called him from the bar to tell him. His response "Why in the hell didn't you go with him?" hahaha
The Road Warriors came along a little later than the true mid-atlantic/JCP time period, so they didn't travel as extensively in the Carolina's. That was around the time they started having shows mostly in "larger" towns/cities and not coming to the local HS gyms as much.
The Hickory gym had Flair's name on it, but Arn might have owned it.
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Valentine was tough as nails. A good worker too.
Yes, he was. I saw him work a guy over in Asheville one time that got a few licks in on Flair. Not a good day for the guy.
The one guy that should have been a Horsemen but never was. That was always a tragedy.
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haha, funny thread so far. I do know a female that Flair attempted to pick-up at a bar in Asheville, but it was much later than his truly wild partying days...mid 90's I think. She knew her brother was a huge wrestling fan from back in the day and called him from the bar to tell him. His response "Why in the hell didn't you go with him?" hahaha
The Road Warriors came along a little later than the true mid-atlantic/JCP time period, so they didn't travel as extensively in the Carolina's. That was around the time they started having shows mostly in "larger" towns/cities and not coming to the local HS gyms as much.
The Hickory gym had Flair's name on it, but Arn might have owned it.
Just admit the brother was you.
Did we not go to that gym one time to try and find AA?
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Just admit the brother was you.
Did we not go to that gym one time to try and find AA?
I don't have a sister, haha.... but if I did...... ;D
I can't remember going to that gym, but we might have. I seem to have forgotten a lot of what we did back then for some odd reason. 8)
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Do you guys remember when Steamboat feuded with Tully for the TV title?
This would have been not long before Dusty came into the territory.
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Do you guys remember when Steamboat feuded with Tully for the TV title?
This would have been not long before Dusty came into the territory.
I vaguely do, not sure why I don't remember it more. Wasn't that right before Steamboat went to the WWF? I think Tully is one of the most underrated workers ever. I saw him live on numerous occasions and he always delivered. Goes without saying that the same with Steamboat. I probably saw Steamboat live 2 dozen times, at least. He was so over it was insane.
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I vaguely do, not sure why I don't remember it more. Wasn't that right before Steamboat went to the WWF? I think Tully is one of the most underrated workers ever. I saw him live on numerous occasions and he always delivered. Goes without saying that the same with Steamboat. I probably saw Steamboat live 2 dozen times, at least. He was so over it was insane.
Yes; by Steamboat’s own admission, it was Dusty’s arrival that ultimately lead to his departure.
Steamer had been feuding with Tully for the TV belt over several months.
They’d built tremendous momentum with longer & longer matches - eventually working 45-50 min. per night - with all of them ending the same way: Tully just barely escaping with his title.
Ricky looked forward to what his eventual win would mean due to the history the two men had created…
…until the “common man” made his way into Carolina…
…and became booker.
From the same man who brought us the “Shockmaster,” Rhodes booked himself in a match with Tully & won the strap in under 12 mins.
Steamboat said he saw the writing on the wall & left for NY.
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Yes; by Steamboat’s own admission, it was Dusty’s arrival that ultimately lead to his departure.
Steamer had been feuding with Tully for the TV belt over several months.
They’d built tremendous momentum with longer & longer matches - eventually working 45-50 min. per night - with all of them ending the same way: Tully just barely escaping with his title.
Ricky looked forward to what his eventual win would mean due to the history the two men had created…
…until the “common man” made his way into Carolina…
…and became booker.
From the same man who brought us the “Shockmaster,” Rhodes booked himself in a match with Tully & won the strap in under 12 mins.
Steamboat said he saw the writing on the wall & left for NY.
So sad. I wish I had a better memory of the Steamboat/Tully fued. Rhodes/Tully certainly had an incredible run, but I think Tully could have worked a great program with anybody at that time. He was a great interview and could back it up in the ring. What i have always respected about Tully is that he could have stayed in Texas and worked for his dad, Joe, but instead he ventured out on his own.
I saw Tully and Magnum work an hour long match to a draw in Cherokee, NC one night that literally had the bldg on its feet for the last 30 minutes.
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So sad. I wish I had a better memory of the Steamboat/Tully fued. Rhodes/Tully certainly had an incredible run, but I think Tully could have worked a great program with anybody at that time. He was a great interview and could back it up in the ring. What i have always respected about Tully is that he could have stayed in Texas and worked for his dad, Joe, but instead he ventured out on his own.
I saw Tully and Magnum work an hour long match to a draw in Cherokee, NC one night that literally had the bldg on its feet for the last 30 minutes.
Who would you say were the "most over" guys in the Carolinas over the years?
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Who would you say were the "most over" guys in the Carolinas over the years?
Great question. Over the years....Blackjack Mulligan, Wahoo, Steamboat/Youngblood, Flair of course, Rock n Roll Express, Dusty, Jimmy Valiant, Magnum TA, Wahoo, Road Warriors when they passed thru..... probably forgetting a bunch, but all of those stand out.
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Great question. Over the years....Blackjack Mulligan, Wahoo, Steamboat/Youngblood, Flair of course, Rock n Roll Express, Dusty, Jimmy Valiant, Magnum TA, Wahoo, Road Warriors when they passed thru..... probably forgetting a bunch, but all of those stand out.
Was it JCP that put Wahoo in a mask for a short time?
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Was it JCP that put Wahoo in a mask for a short time?
I'm having a hard time picturing that.
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Was it JCP that put Wahoo in a mask for a short time?
If they did, i don't remember it. They did turn him heel for awhile and that didn't go over very well with the fans.
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Any riot stories?
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Any riot stories?
I had a fantasy free for all at my house on saturday night ;D
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Any riot stories?
I've mentioned this one before, but the closest I saw was in Cherokee, NC. Flair vs Wahoo for the US title. The atmosphere was a bit hostile for the Nature Boy. Before the match even starts as they are walking around inside the ring, some guy in the top of the stands throws a chunk of brick at Flair, it misses and hits the ref square in the mouth. Blood everywhere. They brought him by on a stretcher near where we were sitting, that wasn't pretty. The home crowd settled down a bit after that.
Also had a crazy distant relative who kept bragging that he was going to punch out some heel, I'll have to check with family to see who it was. Anyway, he did sucker punch the guy on the way to the ring and all he did was look at him, roll his eyes and keep walking. Didn't even faze the guy. I was too young to remember that, but my brothers laugh about it.
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I'm having a hard time picturing that.
One promotion decided to put Wahoo in a mask after he lost a loser-leaves-town match.
Wahoo came down to the ring & was hadcuffed to the ropes.
He didn't know any other way of working and started throwing his trademark chops, which - if there was still any doubt in anyone's mind - very clearly signalled it was him.
There are some crazy stories about him including one in which he allegedly drank a quart of motor oil.
He claims the only side effect was that he smelled like a truck for about a week.
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I've mentioned this one before, but the closest I saw was in Cherokee, NC. Flair vs Wahoo for the US title. The atmosphere was a bit hostile for the Nature Boy. Before the match even starts as they are walking around inside the ring, some guy in the top of the stands throws a chunk of brick at Flair, it misses and hits the ref square in the mouth. Blood everywhere. They brought him by on a stretcher near where we were sitting, that wasn't pretty. The home crowd settled down a bit after that.
Also had a crazy distant relative who kept bragging that he was going to punch out some heel, I'll have to check with family to see who it was. Anyway, he did sucker punch the guy on the way to the ring and all he did was look at him, roll his eyes and keep walking. Didn't even faze the guy. I was too young to remember that, but my brothers laugh about it.
At what point did you personally feel that the NWA you’d grown up with evolved into "an abomination" of its former self?
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At what point did you personally feel that the NWA you’d grown up with evolved into "an abomination" of its former self?
Officially for me is when it became WCW and they had Flair cut his hair. I was a little down on it before that, as for me it really changed too much when it became WCW, but the Flair hair deal was the nail in the coffin for me. There was some decent wrestling after that, guys like Muta, Sting, etc... but it just had a more cartoonish feel.
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Officially for me is when it became WCW and they had Flair cut his hair. I was a little down on it before that, as for me it really changed too much when it became WCW, but the Flair hair deal was the nail in the coffin for me. There was some decent wrestling after that, guys like Muta, Sting, etc... but it just had a more cartoonish feel.
You didn't like the Demi Moore do?
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Officially for me is when it became WCW and they had Flair cut his hair. I was a little down on it before that, as for me it really changed too much when it became WCW, but the Flair hair deal was the nail in the coffin for me. There was some decent wrestling after that, guys like Muta, Sting, etc... but it just had a more cartoonish feel.
Oh man....I couldn't agree more. Especially with that Flair cutting his hair and Black Scorpion bit. I think Ole Anderson was on crack with that decision.
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I don't remember Wahoo in a mask either, and I think that would stand out with me.
I would say about the same about when the magic ended. By the time the haircut rolled around, I had sort of lost touch for a bit.
My favorite memories revolve around going to the Asheville Civic Center, Sunday afternoon, 3:00 bell time. And you could pick up the paper and read the results the next morning. Nothing like the good old days.
I saw a few good fights there, some in the stands, some with some guy that wanted to run to the ring.
One great memory was a very old little old lady that would sit in the front row, EVERY TIME the doors opened. The wrestlers got to know her and would acknowledge her. It was a good way to get heat and she would certainly do her part.
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Any stories about "Wild Fire" Tommy Rich?
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Great question. Over the years....Blackjack Mulligan, Wahoo, Steamboat/Youngblood, Flair of course, Rock n Roll Express, Dusty, Jimmy Valiant, Magnum TA, Wahoo, Road Warriors when they passed thru..... probably forgetting a bunch, but all of those stand out.
I would add Paul Jones and Piper to that list.
The amazing one off your list would be Valiant. I am not sure what he had, but he had plenty of it, he was always way over.
Of course, the biggest was (even is) Flair. His heel turns became almost meaningless. Not matter what he did, he would still get cheered. He would be good during his pursuit of the belt, then come out with three women on his arm and turn immediately the next night. I don't think he ever held the belt as a face.
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Any stories about "Wild Fire" Tommy Rich?
I'm not sure he was ever in Mid-Atlantic. If so, it was a very short time.
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"Wild Fire" Tommy Rich was mid - late 70's to early 80's. He was there in the days that the 4 horsemen formed, I was watching augusta championship wrestling when AA compared themselves to the 4 horsemen of the bible. Tommy Rich was in the days with: Tony Atlas (before TA blew up for Bodybuilding), Wrestler #1 & wrestler #2, SD "special delivery" jones...etc.
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The amazing one off your list would be Valiant. I am not sure what he had, but he had plenty of it, he was always way over.
I've always felt the same way about Dusty Rhodes.
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Dusty always had charisma and was generally booked at the top, or at least towards there. Valiant could be in a feud with an absolute nobody and would get some of, if not the biggest, pops of the evening. He was basically a mid-carder, but he stayed over.
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Tommy Rich was in Georgia Championship Wrestling during his main run in the early to mid 80's. He did a little bit of stuff for JCP, but that was very limited. There was always an exchange of talent between the 2 promotions. Rich then went on to mid-south and was in a tag-team, The Fabulous Ones with Eddie Gilbert.
As far as stories, never heard any from the Carolina's, but I know he was supposed to be quite the ladies man in Georgia. So odd that he had the NWA title on him for such a short time.
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That is what I thought. If he was in the Carolina's, it was for a very short time.
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Any Bobby Eaton stories?
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Any Bobby Eaton stories?
No Eaton stories, but I did meet "Sweet" Stan Lane a few yrs ago. He stopped by our store in Greensboro when I worked there and bought a home gym for his gf. He was still in good shape and we did talk a little about wrestling. He was very disappointed in how it had changed, but had good things to say about his time in the NWA with the Midnight Express and the fans in the Carolinas.
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No Eaton stories, but I did meet "Sweet" Stan Lane a few yrs ago. He stopped by our store in Greensboro when I worked there and bought a home gym for his gf. He was still in good shape and we did talk a little about wrestling. He was very disappointed in how it had changed, but had good things to say about his time in the NWA with the Midnight Express and the fans in the Carolinas.
Didn't Bobby Eaton have a beef with Arn Anderson back in the day over something? I believe it was over how Eaton felt that the titles were not being distributed equally in the NWA and the Horsemen had all the titles.
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Didn't Bobby Eaton have a beef with Arn Anderson back in the day over something? I believe it was over how Eaton felt that the titles were not being distributed equally in the NWA and the Horsemen had all the titles.
I hadn't heard that, but I could see what he was saying from his point of view. RnR vs. Midnight was a way over fued and the titles certainly helped it, but on the other hand with the way the Horsemen were billed, it made more sense to keep the titles on them for long stretches. Fans absolutely loved seeing faces chase the Horsemen.
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At what point did you personally feel that the NWA you’d grown up with evolved into "an abomination" of its former self?
It was long after the merger...because I still had hopes...but I was watching one of the early Saturday afternoon shows and they had a "battle royal" that consisted of only jobbers and mid-carders. It was won by "Disco Inferno" (If Squadfather had been there, he would have said, "Oh, brother ::) ")
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Throw in story:
i remember watching a show at my eventual hs gym when I was probably 9 yrs old. Ox Baker was a mid-carder who was pretty much there to put over the younger talent at that point. I remember he came out after his match and sat in the ringside seats and was grooming his moustache. A bunch of kids eventually got up the nerve to sneak up behind him and he jumped from his seat like a crazy man and ran them off! I was too scared to attempt such a feat at that age. I think about the "why" now and its so cool. He was purposely baiting the fans to get a reaction and we all ate it up....and he was years past his prime. Imagine any of the toolbags in the WWE doing that now, hell even TNA, without a bunch of cameras and a staff of writers telling him exactly what to do............
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Throw in story:
i remember watching a show at my eventual hs gym when I was probably 9 yrs old. Ox Baker was a mid-carder who was pretty much there to put over the younger talent at that point. I remember he came out after his match and sat in the ringside seats and was grooming his moustache. A bunch of kids eventually got up the nerve to sneak up behind him and he jumped from his seat like a crazy man and ran them off! I was too scared to attempt such a feat at that age. I think about the "why" now and its so cool. He was purposely baiting the fans to get a reaction and we all ate it up....and he was years past his prime. Imagine any of the toolbags in the WWE doing that now, hell even TNA, without a bunch of cameras and a staff of writers telling him exactly what to do............
Yes, today's "talent" is virtually clueless as to these types of practices.
However, I'm not sure they could pull something like that off even if they wanted or were told to.
Much of the current rosters lack the presence to intimidate Justin Bieber.
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Yes, today's "talent" is virtually clueless as to these types of practices.
However, I'm not sure they could pull something like that off even if they wanted or were told to.
Much of the current rosters lack the presence to intimidate Justin Bieber.
Not to mention kids today seem to think they are bullet-proof at the age of 8. Not enough spankings from their parents/ teachers or butt whoopin's from siblings to instill some good ole fashioned fear in them.... 8)
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Didnt Ivan Koloff live in NC I believe.
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Didnt Ivan Koloff live in NC I believe.
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I think he still does.
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Although it concerns Georgia Championship Wrestling, I put this post here due to GCW's eventual affiliation with the North Carolina-based Jim Crockett Promotions.
Okay, with that clarification out of the way... I’m trying to keep straight some facts, which is nearly impossible the way some of the old territories changed hands in ownership so many times - particularly the whole “NWA thing.” I need some of you experts to clarify a few facts for me.
Below are clips from the notorious “Black Saturday,” in which Vince McMahon Jr. announced his/WWF’s involvement with GCW after purchasing the Briscoe’s stock shares. The old man began airing his WWF shows in the GCW time-slot on the Turner network and the mid-south fans farted on it. Vince eventually sold his time-slot to Jim Crockett, who began airing his JCP/NWA product, which really took off after McMahon’s flop. From what I understand, Vince sold only his Saturday night time-slot - NOT THE GCW COMPANY - to Crockett.
Now, here’s where it gets fuzzy… Vince apparently bought the rights to the GCW library as part of his WCW purchase in 2001. That implies that GCW shifted ownership from Vince to Crockett to Turner, then back to Vince.
My question is: didn’t Vince retain the rights to Georgia if he never sold the company to JCP?
Furthermore, Grady Odum (one of the original GCW owners, along with the Briscoe‘s and Paul Jones) attempted to reform the Georgia “territory” with a series of shows last year. So, how the hell can he be the owner and/or use the GCW name if Vince has everything?
Any insight would be appreciated.
This shit is confusing!!
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I don't know about the stuff from last year, but my understanding back in the day was that when VKM bought the time slot, it didn't include the actual GCW product or archives. I think he made a deal to buy the time slots and TBS had to agree not to air wrestling at other times. I could be wrong, but that is how my beer fuzzied mind recalls it. ;D
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I don't know about the stuff from last year, but my understanding back in the day was that when VKM bought the time slot, it didn't include the actual GCW product or archives. I think he made a deal to buy the time slots and TBS had to agree not to air wrestling at other times. I could be wrong, but that is how my beer fuzzied mind recalls it. ;D
Okay, that makes sense.
On the other hand, I also remember reading that he purchased Jack & Jerry Brisco's shares in the company, which seems to imply some kind of ownership of the company.
I don't know...
I was actually contemplating putting together a "history of the NWA" thread, chronicling the landmark events of the Alliance's different territories throughout the mid-South & mid-Atlantic, but it gets so incredibly complex; not to mention there are countless descrepancies in the various accounts.
It would take an amazing amount of time and research...
Fukk that - I've got finals & boards coming up! ;D
Thanks for the inupt.
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By the way: do you remember "Black Saturday?"
Did you see it when it originally aired?
I can only imagine you watching Vince McMahon from New York appear on the set of your beloved GCW...
I'd have LOVED to see your reaction!! :)
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By the way: do you remember "Black Saturday?"
Did you see it when it originally aired?
I can only imagine you watching Vince McMahon from New York appear on the set of your beloved GCW...
I'd have LOVED to see your reaction!! :)
haha, I was watching it at the time and to be honest more confused than anything else. Once I realized that they were just going to re-air shitty WWF footage, I was royally pissed as you can imagine. I thought at first he was going to take over operations of GCW and use their talent.....I was young at the time, but would have tackled his arrogant ass if given the chance..... ;D Little did I know that it was basically the blueprint of what was to come.....he takes over and wrestling turn to pure shit.
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haha, I was watching it at the time and to be honest more confused than anything else. Once I realized that they were just going to re-air shitty WWF footage, I was royally pissed as you can imagine. I thought at first he was going to take over operations of GCW and use their talent.....I was young at the time, but would have tackled his arrogant ass if given the chance..... ;D Little did I know that it was basically the blueprint of what was to come.....he takes over and wrestling turn to pure shit.
;D