1986

Recap and Preview

1985 had been another busy year in the territory owned by Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler. Despite wrestling’s newfound popularity, due in great part to the media manipulations of Vince McMahon’s WWF, the business of professional wrestling had changed dramatically in a few years as the WWF’s national expansion destroyed many of the long-standing territories that had served wrestling for decades. In the process of expansion, the WWF was snapping up many of the stars still working the territories. Meantime, Lawler concluded his longtime feud against Jimmy Hart, who left for the WWF, and battled a number of stars throughout the year. By the end of the year though Bill Dundee had returned and defeated Lawler in a loser leaves town match. As 1986 began, Lawler, the area’s leading gate attraction, was nowhere to be found which meant Bill Dundee was the star of the show. 

The Bill and Buddy Show

With Jerry Lawler gone from the territory Bill Dundee had free reign as the hottest heel the area had seen in a decade. His reign was nothing short of a reign of terror. Dundee laughed at the authority (figurehead) promoter Eddie Marlin held. Dundee began running through a number of opponents including Big Red, Austin Idol, Steve Keirn, Koko Ware and others. Dundee’s running partner at the end of 1985 was Dutch Mantel. Mantel though was in the midst of a war of his own against Rick Casey. With Mantel battling Casey, Buddy Landel came upon the scene.