Ray Stevens And Beau James 
Wreak Havoc In CWF!

1976 was a year that many Americans recall for different reasons.  The United States celebrated two hundred years of independence on the Fourth of July, and the country elected its thirty-ninth president, Jimmy Carter. The Concorde made its first official commercial flight. Films such as Rocky and Taxi Driver packed movie theatres, while Peter Frampton and The Bay City Rollers lit up the airwaves. The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys to capture their second Super Bowl Championship, and the Cincinnati Reds shutout the New York Yankees to win the World Series. Florida wrestling fans were lucky enough to be treated to seeing some of the best heels that ever climbed into the squared circle. Acclaimed villains such as the Assassin, the Missouri Mauler, Pak Song, and King Curtis competed on a nightly basis, antagonizing babyfaces statewide. In May of that year, a true wrestling legend made his presence known in CWF, a grappler universally thought of as one of the best of all time. Ray “The Crippler” Stevens had returned to the Sunshine State. 

Stevens first appeared in a Florida wrestling ring twenty-one years earlier, making his debut in Tampa against Doran O’Hara on July 27, 1955. Stevens, billed “at 19 one of the youngest pro wrestlers in the world,” held O’Hara to a thirty-minute draw. Stevens also made history, appearing on the first live Florida wrestling television show on October 17, 1956, defeating Chris Zaharias in a two out of three-fall match. Stevens remained undefeated on TV, and on November 21, 1956, he beat Harry Smith in Tampa to become the first Florida Television Champion. Stevens moved on to wrestle around the world, most notably igniting the San Francisco territory, but still occasionally making very short tours of Florida, even holding the Florida tag titles with Nick Bockwinkel for three weeks in July of 1972. But the tour of 1976 was different-Ray Stevens was coming in as a main event singles wrestler, and Ray Stevens was about to make his presence known. 

Stevens made his return to Miami on May 26 a successful one, defeating veteran Abe “Kiwi Roll” Jacobs in the third bout on the card. Stevens met and defeated some of CWF’s best, beating Billy Robinson in Tampa on June 1, Dick Slater in Miami on June 2, and Robinson again on June 9 in Miami. Stevens, though, had a big surprise in store for fans. “Permit me to introduce Mr. Beau James. He is not merely a corner man, as are some managers, he is a brilliant legal mind. He knows the rules and regulations of professional wrestling as thoroughly as I know the holds. The man is a genius—which is why it was only natural that he and I should get together. Beau James is the man responsible for getting my ‘bombs away’ reinstated!” Ray, now with cowboy hat-wearing Beau James as his manager, continued his winning ways, defeating Hiro Matsuda on June 15 in Tampa, Fatback (Bearcat) Brown on June 16 in Miami, and Igor (Rick Ferrara) Bonnet on June 22 in Tampa and June 23 in Miami. 

In an interview with the weekly Florida wrestling program, Beau James explained his role and his relationship with Stevens. “Ray Stevens is probably the greatest wrestler in the world today. He’s smarter than most managers, and can out-think any opponent in the ring whether I’m at ringside or not. I have an uncanny knack for making these guys who are in authority as officials and promoters see things my way. I am a negotiator without peer. Henry Kissinger wishes he had my keen mind and cunning capacity for coercing capitulation! You see, we’re good. No brag, just fact. And we’re not just as good as the rest, we’re better, so I guess that makes us great, or maybe just outstanding. I don’t want to seem immodest, but when you’re as good as we are, it’s hard to be humble!” Of course, Beau James was experienced as a successful manager, previously working under the name Jimmy Garvin, younger “brother” to Terry and Ronnie Garvin. 

Stevens entered into a feud with promising young wrestler Greg Valentine, after Beau James made a remark that finding competition for Stevens was difficult, and that Valentine wasn’t in the “same class” with Stevens. Valentine then cut a promo on both Stevens and James, offering to wrestle either one at any time.  More...