First of all I would like to thank Vince Fahey and the readers here at Kayfabe Memories for being patient with me for the long delay between features. I would also like to thank my friend Scott Teal for providing me with the research materials needed for us to continue our year by year journey through Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling.

This year I want to take a look at the year that was 1974. World Champions Jack Brisco and Ken Mantell returned to the area as did the Bass Family. Duke Miller reigned supreme with the formation of "Murder, Inc.", years before the "Four Horsemen". The United States Tag Team Championship leaves the area after 3 years and the Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship is revived.

JANUARY:

The New Year kicked off as the last one had ended with Gulf Coast Heavyweight Champion, Duke Miller teaming with the Wrestling Pro and feuding with the team of Rocket Monroe & Norvel Austin. The first meeting of the two teams of 1974 was a combination boxing and wrestling match with three weeks pay at stake. During the match the Pro and Austin wore the gloves. Austin and Monroe won the match when Norvel KO'd the Pro. A skirmish followed the match and the decision was thrown out and once again all four wrestlers had their pay held up. The rematch saw all four men wearing boxing gloves and they could either box or wrestle. This time four weeks pay was at stake. Miller and the Pro took this decision when Miller hit Monroe with his guillotine elbow drop for the pin.  Miller had developed the guillotine into such a devastating weapon that he offered $500 to anyone who could get up after being hit with it. The hold was applied when Miller propelled himself onto his prone opponent with an elbow drop, using the second rope as a slingshot. After several weeks of demonstrating the effectiveness of the hold on TV, Miller ran into a snag. The Mysterious Medic appeared on TV and stated that he had been watching Miller apply the hold and had devised a counter to it. Miller came out and talked to the Medic and agreed to allow the Medic to prove that he could withstand the guillotine. Up to this point, the Medic was just as hated as Miller, but the fans were rooting for him to show the arrogant Gulf Coast champ up. The Medic climbed into the ring and lay prone on the mat. Miller grabbed the top rope and put his foot on the second rope to catapult himself onto the Medic. Just as Miller was about to swing into the maneuver, the Medic did a neck bridge, bringing his upper body off the mat. Miller stopped his follow through and protested to what the Medic was doing. The full effect of the guillotine was felt when Miller's elbow slammed into his opponent's upper chest, driving the air from the lungs. By bridging, the Medic would lessen the blow. Miller tried three more times, but each time the Medic bridged and Miller stopped short of going through with the hold. Finally, the frustrated Miller started stomping the Medic. The Wrestling Pro came into the ring and helped Miller stomp his former tag team partner. Finally, Mike Boyette came out to chase them away and to help the Medic out of the ring. This led to the Medic challenging the Miller to a match. The Wrestling Pro interfered on behalf of Miller in this match and the Medic took another severe beating.  More...