My Great American Bash 1988 Program

On July 10, 1988 the Baltimore Arena in Baltimore, Maryland was the site of The Great American Bash, the final Jim Crockett Promotions pay-per-view event.  On this day, the 36th Anniversary of the event I thought it would be a great time to share, in depth, the original program from this event that I acquired at WrestleCon during mania weekend this year. 

Rolling into day 2 of WrestleCon this year, April 6th, I was slated to get a 1991 Impel WCW Card of the Four Horsemen signed by SID and Ric Flair.  This card features, Barry Windham, SID, Ric Flair, & Arn Anderson.  I had Arn sign it on June 10, 2022 at a Big Time Wrestling show in Webster, MA.

Barry Windham was supposed to sign the card in March of this year at the Wrestling Classic, however due to a Spring snowstorm his flight was cancelled.  They did do a private signing make up in June, however It was not announced until May.

That morning I get to the hall and look for SID and he is not at his table.  I ask the handlers there who tell me that SID cancelled last minute.  I had heard rumors that SID was a frequent no show or last minute cancellation type guy.  Not wanting to waste the $79 Ric Flair signature I pre-paid for I didn't want him to sign this card, trouble is I didn't bring anything else.  So the hunt was on to find something else for Flair to sign and quickly.  

I started searching around at vendor tables looking for Wonderama Trading cards and I found one, but it's Michael Hayes slamming Flair, why would I want Flair to sign that?  I mean if Hayes had signed it, sure, but not Flair first.  I was stressing hard.

I got in line for Flair, ended up in line for over 2 hours.  I tried to sell my Flair ticket, but didn't have any luck there.  I was frustrated because it's $79 for Flair to sign something and I wasn't happy with what I was getting signed.  The vendor that I bought the card from also had an original Great American Bash 1988 Program for $60.  I just didn't want to spend more money as I had spent quite a bit already.

Ultimately, I wasn't happy with the card, I love Jim Crockett Promotions and this is an original and official piece of JCP merchandise.  My favorite wrestling to watch is JCP from 1984 - 1988 and I love the Great American Bash tours, this was the last one under the JCP banner, also this was the first ever Great American Bash PPV and the last ever Crockett PPV.  My buddy Bradford watched my place in line and I ran back upstairs and bought it.

As I neared the front of the line many people saw what I was getting signed and that it was a cool piece to get signed.  Flair even remarked how nice it was.  After getting Flair to sign it I decided to spent another $60 to have Lex Luger sign it as he and Flair wrestled in the main event on the show.  He too thought it was a beautiful piece and talked about the match.  I've met Luger twice and both times he couldn't have been a nicer guy.

I debated having others at WrestleCon who appeared on the show sign the program as well, Arn Anderson and The Rock n' Roll Express, but then I thought, no I can't get everyone on the show to sign it, and they way Flair and Luger signed it, it was too perfect.  I couldn't be happier with how this piece turned out.

 

My plan is to frame it and hang it, however I'm going to share all the pages of the inside of the program at the end of this post.

Great American Bash 1988 Results

July 10, 1988 Baltimore Arena, Maryland

NWA World Tag Team Champions: "Enforcer" Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard with JJ Dillon wrestled Sting and "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff to a 20 minute time limit draw

The Midnight Express: "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton & "Sweet" Stan Lane with Jim Cornette defeated NWA United States Tag Team Champions: The Fantastics: Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers to win the championships

Tower of Doom Match: The Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal, "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin, and Jimmy "Jam" Garvin with Precious defeated Al Perez, "Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff, Kevin Sullivan, "Captain" Mike Rotunda, and The Russian Assassin with Gary Hart and "Mr. Number 1" Paul Jones

NWA United States Champion: Barry Windham with JJ Dillon defeated "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair with JJ Dillon defeated "The Total Package" Lex Luger by referee stoppage

Check out all of my posts from our wrestling trip to Philly

More Than Mania Philadelphia Adventure

More Than Mania Rasslin Photos

More Than Mania Mike with Friends and Rasslers!

More Than Mania Signed Cards

More Than Mania Wrestling Results

Read a blog post I wrote about The Great American Bash in general in 2017. 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

New Grail Card Update 2!

If you've been following this blog you may recall back on May 17, 2022 I posted about my new grail trading card, from the 1988 NWA Wonderama set, card #339 Four Horsemen.

The Second update was posted on February 11, 2023, here is the time line of events

May 9, 2022 I ordered the card on Ebay, total with tax and free shipping was $42.20 it was delivered on May 12, 2022. 

The first signature I was able to get Arn Anderson at Big Time Wrestling in Webster, Massachusetts he was managing Brock Anderson and Brian Pillman Jr. in tag team action who were wrestling FTR managed by Bret "Hitman" Hart.  Amazing right!

I got Arn to sign several cards that night, as well as FTR and got my picture with them and Brock Anderson.  It was a great night!

Next, I mailed the card to my buddy Brandon who attended WrestleCade 2022 held November 25 - 27 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  David Crockett was scheduled to attend and he doesn't do many signings.  I got 3 cards total signed by David, the other two NWA Wonderama cards already signed by Tony Schiavone.  He was also able to get Luger to sign it for me.  

Fiterman Sports Group out of Texas is the signing agent for "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.  I wasn't sure if I'd ever see Flair again, turns out I saw him in 2024 in Philadelphia, so I mailed the card off to a signing they were doing in Houston on January 15, 2023.  I mailed two cards, the second being another NWA Wonderama.  

That just left Tully Blanchard and JJ Dillon. Sadly neither appeared at WrestleCon this year.  Reaching out to others about JJ Dillon it was relayed to me that he is not in the best of health so was hoping to see him in Philly and was sad he didn't appear.

However, he and Tully as well as Barry Windham and Arn Anderson appeared at 80's Wrestling Con in Morristown, New Jersey on May 4th.  There was no way I was going to be able to go, but a friend of mine Erik had a friend name Antonio going to the show.  He connected us together and Antonio was going to be a huge solid and get it signed. 

I mailed the grail card to Antonio along with two other JJ Dillon Cards and two Tully Blanchard cards, all NWA Wonderama.  I figured might as well get some others signed.  Unfortunately during the event there was some confusion and he was only able to get Tully to sign the card.  He got JJ to sign the other cards, he just didn't give JJ the grail card.  

I can't be mad about it, he did a complete stranger a favor and he feels bad about it.  It is what it is, hopefully I can get JJ to sign this year.  Part of me wants to get that last signature myself in person, but at this point I just want to finish it off. 

 

Arn Anderson signed June 10, 2022 cost $25

David Crockett signed November 26, 2022 cost $40

Lex Luger signed November 26, 2022 cost $40

Ric Flair signed January 15, 2023 cost $87.89

Tully Blanchard signed May 4, 2024 cost $40

Total investment so far: $275.09

I think it would make sense that once complete send it to PSA for grading and authentication.  

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book Limitless Wrestling: The First Five Years, or any of my other books as well.  

Until next time!

Signed Trading Cards: Barry Windham, Ronnie Garvin, Lex Luger, & Magnum TA

This post is highlighting the cards that I acquired during my IndyMania Wrestling Vacation in New York City April 3rd - 6th, 2019.

The theme in this post that links the wrestlers together is the NWA: National Wrestling Alliance.  All these wrestling in this post were prominently featured in that promoting during the heyday of Jim Crockett Promotions.  The NWA Wonderama cards are among my all time favorite to get signed.

Barry Windham

These cards I got signed on Friday April 5th at the Wrestlecon Convention.  The first card is from the 1988 Wonderama set for Jim Crockett Promotions, the second card is from the WCW 1991 Championship Marketing set.  Previously I had gotten a WWF card signed of him and Rotunda at the US Express.  Windham is one of my all time favorites, he was so good in the ring especially for a man his size.  His flying clothesline was tremendous!

Ronnie Garvin

These cards I got signed on Friday April 5th at the Wrestlecon Convention.  The first card is from the 1988 Wonderama set for Jim Crockett Promotions.  The second card is from the 1989 WWF Classic set released by Game Time Inc.  I recently wrote a blog about Garvin and you can about it here: Ronnie Garvin: His NWA World Championship Matches

Lex Luger

These cards I got signed on Friday April 5th at the Wrestlecon Convention.  My intention was to get three cards signed and I brought the extra and ask if he would like them.  I gave away many cards to wrestlers on this trip.  Luger at first said thank you, but then signed them all and gave them to me saying he had boxes of them at home.

Cards 1 - 3 are from the 1988 Wonderama set for Jim Crockett Promotions, cards 4 & 5 are from the WCW 1991 Championship Marketing set.  Card 6 is from the 1993 Merlin set that was released in Germany.  The final card is from the 1999 WCW Topps Embossed set.  These seven cards really show the progression of his career.

Magnum TA

This card I got signed on Saturday April 6th at the Wrestlecon Convention.  I bought the card direct from Magnum TA. It is in the style of the 1982 & 1983 Wrestling All Stars trading cards but this one is not part of either set and the back is white and blank.  I had gone over to his table just to tell him that his I Quit Steel Cage match with Tully Blanchard is one of my all time favorites.  I'm really glad that I picked it up!  Previously I had gotten an NWA Wonderama card signed by him.

I spoke with David Peck http://www.1982wrestlingallstars.com/ an expert on the Wrestling All Stars trading cards.  He let me know that a Wrestling All Stars calendar came out in 1984 for Mid-South Wrestling and that this image of Magnum TA is from January in that calendar.  This explains why the back is white and there is no traditional text.

You can watch his You Tube video on the calendar here: 1984 Wrestling All Stars Calendar

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WCW's Women's Division

Until the last few years the women's wrestling scene in the United States had been treated like a side attraction instead of a featured contest.  There were times in the WWE like in the mid 1980's with the Rock N' Wrestling era of Wendi Richter or early 1990's with Alundra Blayze where it was a strong mid-card attraction.

The American Wrestling Association revived their Women's Championship in 1984 until the promotion folded featuring Candi Devine, Sensational Sherri, Wendi Richter and others.  It was also around this time that several women's promotions started popping up such as GLOW, POWW, Delta Tiger Lillies, LPWA, and others.

Jim Crockett Promotions and later World Championship Wrestling attempted their own run at a women's division on a few occasions with minimal success.

Misty Blue

In 1986 Misty Blue was brought in, billed as the Women's United States Champion she wrestled Linda Dallas a dozen times and Kat LaRoux once in matches featured at house shows in February, April, & September.  She also made a single television appearance on the September 6, 1986 episode of WCW World Wide.

Misty Blue, Linda, & Kat returned in 1987 with Misty wrestling Linda a half dozen matches in February & April.  In July during the Great American Bash Tour wrestled Kat LaRoux for eight shows.

On August 29, 1987 in Houston Blue was billed at the NWA World Women's Champion defeated Camrade Orga.  On November 26, 1987 in Greensbobo, NC Misty Blue won a 7 women $15,000 Battle Royal, Kat Leroux, Linda Dallas, Jamie West, Venus, Mad Dog Debbie & Whitney Hansen

In February and March of 1988 Misty Blue, Linda, and Kat were back for a few house shows.  December 12, 1988 her whole troupe of girls made it to the WTBS studios in Atlanta for the World Championship Wrestling televisions tapings.  January 1989 they worked two house shows.

Susan Sexton vs. Bambi at Clash of the Champions XII

In September 1990 now under the Ted Turner WCW banner Women's Wrestling returned to TBS with a different group of ladies.  Bambi defeated Peggy Lee Leather on Worldwide and lost to LPWA Women's Champion Susan Sexton at Clash of the Champions XII in Asheville, North Carolina.  The two also faced off four house shows.

February 24, 1991 at Wrestle War 91 in Phoenix, Arizona live on Pay-Per-View, WCW introduced to the world of Joshi Puroresu.  The ladies of All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling; Itsuki Yamazaki & Mami Kitamura defeated Miki Handa & Miss A when the former Jumping Bomb Angel Yamazaki pinned Miss A.  The four ladies faced off at two house shows in Chicago and Georgia prior to the PPV with Miki and Mami switching teams.  Miss A is better know as Dynamite Kansai.

Miki Handa & Miss A vs. Itsuki Yamazaki & Mami Kitamura

These ladies wow'd this crowd as until this time they had never seen women's wrestling like this before.  Hard hitting, fast paced, and exciting the crowd got behind them.

Later that year in October Misty Blue, Linda Dallas, Kat LaRoux, & Black Venus returned for four house shows in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.  It would be there last tour in WCW.

Madusa has been in WCW as a valet for Rick Rude since 1991 and although she never competed in a women's match she did face Paul E. Dangerously in a series of 5 Minute challenges in November and December of 1992.

At World War III Pay-Per-View at the Norfolk Scope, November 26, 1995 women's wrestling returned to WCW for the first time in four years.  Once again they featured the stars of Joshi Puroresu in a cross promotional battled.  Bull Nakano & Akria Hokuto of All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling defeated Cutie Suzuki & Mayumi Ozaki of JWP.  The next night at Monday Nitro in Salem, VA the two teams faced off again with Nakano and Hokuto once again gaining a victory.

Ozaki & Suzuki vs. Hokuto & Nakano

Many wrestling fans will remember Nakano as a former WWE Women's Champion and her matches against Madusa who was known as Alundra Blayze in the promotion.

On December 18, 1995 Madusa showed up on Monday Nitro throwing the WWF Women's Championship in the trash.  Madusa would not return to WCW television until January 29, 1996 when she would lose to Sherri Martel in a short match on Nitro.  Madusa then had a series of matches with Col. Robert Parker in March and April.

In June of 1996 WCW really started stepping up their women's division with Madusa wrestling the likes of Bull Nakano, Akira Hokuto, Debbie Combs, Malia Hosaka, and Leilani Kai.  She even faced Nakano at WCW Hog Wild PPV in Sturgis, South Dakota on August 10, 1996.

Akira Hokuto with Sonny Onoo

November 1996 WCW teamed with the GAEA promotion from Japan to promote a tournament for the WCW Women's Championship.  Akira Hokuto defeated Madusa in the finals of the tournament to win the Championship at Starrcade December 29, 1996 in Nashville, Tennessee.

WCW and GAEA would also crown a WCW Women's Crusierweight Tournament that was won by Toshie Uematsu on April 7, 1997 in Huntsville, Alabama on WCW Main Event.

Toshie Uematsu

The Women's division in WCW from June 1996 until June 1997 was featured on Pay-Per-Views and Monday Nitro occasionally, however the weekend and syndicated shows heavily featured matches from both divisions including tournament matches.  The Women's division essentially came to and end on June 15, 1997 at the Great American Bash when Madusa lost a career vs. title match to Women's Champion Akira Hokuto. This would be Hokuto's last match in WCW.  Later in 1997 the WCW Women's titles were abandoned.

I re-watched that match at the Bash between Madusa and Hokuto was a damn good match.  Hokuto with a relentless onslaught and Madusa fighting back from the bottom until a knee injury slowed her down, but she wouldn't quit and continued fighting.  It was great!  The only downside was Bobby Heenan on commentary talking about how'd he never seen a women take such a beating and fight so hard, and ect.

Madusa would return to WCW in 1999 as part of Randy Savages entourage.  At this point the women in WCW were treated as eye candy and only had the occasional match which was usually a mixed tag, evening gown or other gimmick.

Madusa herself would go on to have matches with several male wrestlers like Benoit, Meng, and even defeating Evan Karagias for the Cruiserweight Championship.  However she did have a few matches with actual women wrestlers like Mona (Molly Holly), Rhonda Singh, Sherri Martel, and Patty Stone Grinder (Leilani Kai).

The best years in women's wrestling for WCW was in 1996 and 1997 but they needed to use Japanese talent to do so.  Also it seems that when it got to it height it just disappeared.  I very pleased that today women's wrestling is where it is on the independents, on the national scene, and around the world.  

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The Great American Bash!

It's the Fourth of July, America's Birthday, which means spending time with the family, grilling, fishing, swimming, and if you're me professional wrestling!

The Great American Bash was the brainchild of the "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes with the first event held July 6, 1985 at the American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina under the NWA banner of Jim Crockett Promotions.

The event featured eight matches, including the NWA World Tag Team Champions: Krusher Khruschev & Ivan Koloff vs. AWA World Tag Team Champions: The Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal with Paul Ellering.

NWA World Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. Nikita Koloff

NWA World Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair defended his title against Nikita Koloff and the shows was headlined by a steel cage match where "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes defeated NWA World Television Champion: Tully Blanchard with Baby Doll.  Dream won the World Television Championship and the valet services of Baby Doll for 30 days.

In 1986 the Great American Bash concept expanded from one single show to a summer tour of sixteen shows running from July 1st thru August 2nd around the Crocketts territory.  On the July 26th stop in Greensboro, North Carolina "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes defeated NWA World Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in a steel cage to win the championship. 

In 1987 the Great American Bash featured over 30 shows with double shots on some days.  This year also featured the debut of War Games with matches two matches taking place during the tour.
 

July 4th at the Omni in Atlanta hosted the first War Games match and July 31st Miami's Orange Bowl hosted the second.  Both matches featured the team of The Road Warriors, Paul Ellering, Dusty Rhodes, & Nikita Koloff defeated The Horseman. 

1988 saw the Great American Bash make it's debut on Pay-Per-View July 10 in Baltimore, Maryland.  It also featured the tour running from June 26th to August 7th around the Crockett Promotion's territory.  They had 14 War Game matches on this tour, which is unbelievable really.  Each match featured the Four Horsemen against a combination of Sting, Dusty Rhodes, The Road Warrior, Lex Luger and Nikita Koloff.
 

The pay-per-view saw Ric Flair succesfully defend his NWA World Championship against Lex Luger.  Also on the card Barry Windham defeated Dusty Rhodes for the United States Championship, The Midnight Express defeated the Fantastics, and more.  Also the Tower of Doom triple steel cage was featured on the PPV instead of the War Games match.  

Once again in the Summer of 1989 under the ownership of Ted Turner, the promotion toured for about a month and a half branching out from the tradition Crockett Territory including the Northeast and Massachusetts.

It also featured a single show on Pay-Per-View July 23 in Baltimore.  Ric Flair defended his World Championship against Terry Funk in the main event.  Also on the card, Sting, The Great Muta, Lex Luger, The Steiner Brothers, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Brian Pillman, and more.

There was no tour in 1990, however on July 7th in Baltimore The Great American Bash returned to pay-per-view.  The main event of the card saw Sting finally defeat "Nature Boy" Ric Flair to capture the NWA World Championship.  Also on the show, Harley Race, Mike Rotunda, Tommy Rich, The Midnight Express, Doom, The Rock n' Roll Express, Lex Luger and more.

In 1991 the tour returned but by now it did not hold the significance that it did in 1986, 1987,  & even 1988.  The pay-per-view card that year saw Lex Luger defeated Barry Windham for the vacant WCW Championship, Flair had been stripped when he left the promotion for the WWF.  However, the world title match was not the main event!  The main event was Rick Steiner defeating Arn Anderson & Paul E. Dangerously in a steel cage in 2:09!

1992 also featured an official tour and the PPV card was a tournament for the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championships, which was won by the current WCW World Tag Team Champions: "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Terry Gordy.  1992 was the last official Great American Bash Tour.

WCW did not promote a Great American Bash event in 1993 or 1994 but it returned to Pay-Per-View in 1995 and continued annually until the year 2000.  In 2004 the WWE revived the name until 2008 then running a PPV called just The Bast in 2009.  To date the final Great American Bash was not a PPV but a subtitled name for the live episode of WWE Smackdown that aired July 3, 2012.

In my opinion the time in wrestling that I enjoy the most going back and watching is Jim Crockett Promotions in early to late 1980's.  The roster, the crowds, the style of wrestling, it's all simply the best.

You can find all of the Great American Bash pay-per-views on the WWE Network under both the WCW and WWE PPV sections.  Also in the vault under NWA World Championship Wrestling if you watch episodes from July and August you can watch matches taped from the Great American Bash tours.

When I was a kid I remember renting and watching two VHS tapes that featured matches from those summer tours.  The first is a joint production of Pro Wrestling Illustrated and Jim Crockett Promotions called Ringmasters: Great American Bash 85.  It is a one hour tape hosted by Bill Apter & Gordon Solie featured clips of matches from the inaugural event.

The second was a Turner Home Entertainment release entitled War Games The Match Beyond: Bash 87.  The tape was 125 minutes in duration and featured the complete War Games 1 & 2 and other complete matches and match highlights.  I remember watching tape over and over again making me dad rent it for me almost every time we rented movies.

In 2014 WWE released the home video "United We Stand: The Best of The Great American Bash" which features a few never before released matches from the 1985 - 1988 tours.  The rest of the home video features matches from only the NWA/WCW versions of the Great American Bash.

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The Last Match - Promotions Gone By

This will be a unique list of Last Matches as it will reflect the last matches of promotions and their major TV shows, if I can find the results.

Jim Crockett Promotions

Ran 1931 – November 2, 1988

November 1, 1988 Savannah, GA Civic Center

NWA World Tag Team Champions: The Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal defeated The Midnight Express: Beautiful Bobby & Sweet Stan

JCP was sold to Ted Turner on November 2, 1988 and even though from the fans perspective the transition was seamless this was the final JCP show.

World Championship Wrestling

Ran November 2, 1988 – March 26, 2001

WCW’s final match was at the final episode of Monday Nitro

WCW Monday Nitro

First broadcast September 4, 1995

March 26, 2001

Panama City, FL Boardwalk Beach Resort

Sting submitted “Nature Boy” Ric Flair with the scorpion death lock

WCW Thunder

First broadcast January 8, 1998

Aired March 21, 2001 Taped March 19, 2001

Gainesville, FL

Jeff Jarrett & United States Champion: Rick Steiner defeated Dustin Rhodes in a handicap match

WCW Saturday Night

First broadcast December 25, 1971

Aired August 19, 2000 as recap show

Final original match April 1, 2000

WCW Hardcore Championship on a pole match

Champion: Brian Knobbs defeated Norman Smiley, The Dog, Rick Fuller, Adrian Byrd, & David Burkhead

WCW Worldwide

First broadcast in 1975 as JCP Wide World Wrestling

Aired February 24, 2001 Taped December 22, 2000

Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN

Ron & Don Harris defeated Jung Dragons: Yang & Kaz Hayashi

WCW House Show

March 4, 2001

Freedom Hall, Johnson City, TN

Diamond Dallas Page & Dustin Rhodes defeated World Champion: Scott Steiner & Jeff Jarrett

Final Champions:

World Champion: Booker T won March 26, 2001

United States Champion: Booker T won March 18, 2001

Cruiserweight Champion: Shane Helms won March 18, 2001

World Tag Team Champions: Natural Born Thrillers: Chuck Palumbo & Sean O’Haire won January 14, 2001

Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions: Filthy Animals: Billy Kidman & Rey Mysterio  won March 26, 2001

Extreme Championship Wrestling

a.k.a.  Eastern Championship Wrestling

Ran April 25, 1992 – April 4, 2001

January 13, 2001 Pine Bluff, AR Convention Center

The Sandman pinned Justin Credible w/ Francine with a pile driver

Final Champions:

World Champion: Rhino won January 7, 2001

World TV Champion: Rhino won September 9, 2000

World Tag Team Champions: Danny Doring & Amish Roadkill won December 3, 2000

Smoky Mountain Wrestling

Ran: October 30, 1991 – December 1995

November 26, 1995 Cookeville, TN Community Center

Ricky Morton, Dirty White Boy, & Tracy Smothers vs. Tag Team Champions: The Heavenly Bodies Dr. Tom Prichard & Jimmy Del Ray, & Robert Gibson

Final Champions

Heavyweight Champion: “Wildfire” Tommy Rich won November 25, 1995

Tag Team Champions: The Heavenly Bodies: Dr. Tom Prichard & Jimmy Del Ray won August 4, 1995

American Wrestling Association

Ran 1960 - 1991

Last TV taping August 11, 1990

House Show

May 3, 1991 Bloomington, MN  Kennedy High School

Greg Gagne & Wahoo McDaniel defeated Destruction Crew: Wayne Bloom & Mike Enos

Final Champions:

World Champion: Larry Zbyszko won April 8, 1990 officially stripped December 12, 1990

World Tag Team Champions: DJ Peterson & The Trooper won August 11, 1990

Women's Champion: Candi Devine won December 6, 1989

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Mid-Atlantic Memories

Narrated by Jim Ross this outstanding documentary is about Jim Crockett Promotions Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling territory.  Told by the wrestlers and the fans that participated and went to the matches we hear stories about Ole Anderson getting stabbed, my all-time favorite match the Magnum TA/Tully Blanchard “I Quit” Steel Cage match, wrestling broadcast on the local TV stations, tag team wrestling, the Midnight Express, the IWA rivalry of the late 70’s, the infamous plane crash of October 4, 1975, Johnny Valentine and so much more. 

Interviewed for the documentary is James E Cornette, Ole, Lars, & Brad Anderson, Tommy Young, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, Magnum TA, Paul “Mr. Wonderful’ Orndorff, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, The Rock n’ Roll Express, The Midnight Express, David Isley, J Dillon, The Assassin, Mr. Wrestling II, Bob Caudle, Rich Landrum, Bobby Fulton, “Mr. USA” Tony Atlas, George South, Tommy Angel, Les Thatcher, Paul Jones, Kevin Sullivan, Ivan Koloff, Rocky Johnson, Ken Patera, Gerald Brisco, Tiger Conway Jr., Kendall Windam, and so many more.  I was surprised that none of the Crockett’s were interviewed.

 

Sprinkled through-out is classic match and promo footage.  Also footage from NWA Legends Fanfest which took place annually in Charlotte, NC promoted by Greg Price.  I myself was lucky to attend one of these fantastic weekends in 2009.  Even though I grew up in Maine my favorite wrestling to watch was Mid-Atlantic Wrestling especially 1982 – 1988 with the prime of the Four Horsemen. 

Legends Fanfest in 2009 is not only my favorite wrestling event I have ever been too, it’s pretty much the greatest weekend of my life.  I’ve written about it here NWA Legends Fanfest 2009. 

I have attended other wrestling conventions and nothing has compared to this weekend.  I sat next to and had dinner with Baby Doll, the Perfect 10, she fed me cake! 

My only complaint about this documentary is that it is not nearly long enough at just under 74 minutes long.  I’m hoping there is some bonus footage out there somewhere that I can get my hands on.

 

To get your own copy go to http://www.midatlanticmemories.com/index.htm

To learn about the next NWA Legends Fanfest go to http://www.nwalegends.com/

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