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 Where Wrestling's Regional History Lives! |
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- Ashley Parrish The summer of 1977 was truly an amazing time for wrestling in the Amarillo territory. Rip Hawk and Swede Hansen were the Western States tag team champions. The Funks were busy trying to recapture the NWA title from Harley Race. Rickey Romero and Cyclone Negro were continuing their never to be resolved feud. But, by far and away, the most significant event that summer was the invasion of the Wildman from the Sudan, Abdullah the Butcher. As with most new comers to the territory, he was promoted on TV prior to his arrival. His promos showed him destroying some Polynesian wrestler in typical Abby fashion. He was huge, violent and uncontrollable. Upon arrival, he began squashing some mid-carders on TV and at the house shows. He defeated a couple of curtain jerkers in a handicap match in Amarillo at the Sports Arena. He laid a pretty thorough whipping on the respectable Nick Kozak. After roughly a month in the territory, no one had come close to giving him a competitive match. With his manager James J. Dillon in his corner, he was blowing through west Texas like a late spring tornado. After building him up as a monster, it came time to book him against the top wrestlers in the area. The first top name to take him on was Dick Murdoch. Abby and Murdoch fought in Amarillo and Lubbock. Both matches were similar out of control blood baths. No real wrestling occurred, just wild brawling, with the Butcher liberally reaching into his pants to retrieve a sharp foreign object for use on Murdoch’s forehead. The action spilled out of the ring and the two fought through ringside. The fans spilled chaotically in all directions. After clearing through ringside, the two fought to the back of the building, surrounded by the trailing fans. Long after the bell rang signaling a double count out, Dillon escorted the Butcher back to the dressing room and Murdoch returned to the ring, imploring the Butcher to come back so the fight could resume. Nothing was settled and the Butcher still had not suffered a loss in the region. The next week in Lubbock, the Butcher faced Terry Funk. Again, it was a typical Abby-Funk free for all. There was a noticeable increase in attendance from the previous week, as well. The fans desperately wanted to see Funk thrash Abby. It was not to be. Both men brawled wildly until Abby made use of his omnipresent foreign object. Funk juiced like a soggy tomato. Funk began to wilt and his efforts to fight became feeble. The Butcher, also a bloody mess, began wiping the blood off of his forehead and licking his hands. The crowd watched in horror. The ref, who somehow never saw the Butcher’s sharp object, finally called for the bell. The match was awarded to Abby with the ref ruling that Funk had bled to much to continue. I knew what I was witnessed was choreographed and predetermined; but, Abby scared the hell out of me that night. Of course, there had to be a rematch. On TV the next week Funk gave a brilliant interview with a promotional poster board of Abby in the background. As Funk swore revenge, he turned to the large wooden sign depicting the Butcher and demanded that Steve Stack tell him who put up that display in the background. Without waiting for Stack’s response, Terry went berserk and destroyed the sign, kicking it and snapping portions over his knee. Later, James J. Dillon appeared for an interview amidst the splintered fragments. In a very calm delivery, Dillon noted the destruction, but stated there was one thing Funk couldn’t destroy. He then bent over to retrieve a portion of the sign on which "managed by James J. Dillon" was inscribed and still legible. As he displayed his name for the camera, he assured the audience that Funk would never destroy him. It was a classic old school promo. More... |
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