Now normally such a match might be considered the blow off to such a feud.....but not in this case.  There was so much heat in this angle, that the two finally met in a climatic loser leaves town showdown with unique settings.  First, the match was a Russian chain match, which would favor Malenko.  Second, instead of the regular confines of the Sam Houston Coliseum, the match would be held inside the gigantic Houston Astrodome.  Fans set a new Houston attendance record that would stand for sometime to see their favorite chief send the professor packing. 

Good While It Lasted:  After spending years away from regular Houston action in the AWA, the Carolinas, and Georgia, Wahoo returned to Houston under some interesting circumstances.  At first, he actually was working for the opposition to Paul Boesch; Southwest Championship Wrestling.  Their first show that ran against Boesch drew miserably; less than 200 fans.  But, by December 1980, Boesch and Joe Blanchard entered into a promotional agreement, primarily because Blanchard had signed Wahoo to wrestle for the company.  Soon afterwards, the love affair between Wahoo and the Houston fans was writing another chapter, as the chief was back as the number one hero in the area.  His main opponents were Tully Blanchard in singles and matching up with Blanchard and partner “Gorgeous” Gino Hernandez, the first “Dynamic Duo” in tag matches.  Business as usual, was very good.   

The Night Wahoo Ruled The World:  As previously written about, Harley Race had no-showed an important 1977 match for Paul Boesch that was the first Sunday card ever for the city.  Four years later, Race would no show again.  The night was April 17, 1981, and Race was to have wrestled Tony Atlas for the NWA World Title.  The Coliseum was packed.....and Race was nowhere to be found, with a missed plane flight as the answer to his whereabouts.  Irate, Boesch then declared that there would be a “new” world champion, and put together an eight man tournament that included Wahoo, Atlas, the Funk Brothers and others, on the spot for the new title.  McDaniel outlasted them all to “win” the title.  McDaniel never lost his title, although his reign was short lived.  Shortly afterwards, Boesch would rescind his decision to have his own champion, but the point that he was so confident in McDaniel’s drawing power to name him his world champion was strongly made. 

The good times for Southwest would go on for about as long as Wahoo’s title reign.  Wahoo and Tully Blanchard did not get along well behind the scenes.  Although in front of the camera, and the fans, the two would provide thrilling matches, the heat between them was so bad that McDaniel would finally leave.  Southwest would never be the same again, and Houston would have to wait a little while before McDaniel would return.  When McDaniel would return, he would find a new foe in AWA champion Nick Bockwinkel, whom Houston fans had taken a supreme disliking to. 

One Last Time:  During 1983-4, McDaniel primarily worked the Mid-Atlantic territory, and even turned heel against former friend and NWA World Champion Ric Flair.  McDaniel was even able to put aside his personal differences to work with Tully Blanchard and the two made a very effective heel tag team.  By 1985, McDaniel was in Florida, and became a face again.  He would again challenge Flair, and the two took their war to Houston in the summer months.  Flair would defend against McDaniel twice, and both matches drew very good crowds.  However, the 1985 series with Flair would be the last time Wahoo would draw big crowds for Houston. 

Many have said that Wahoo was one of the greatest to never wear the NWA World Title.  They were, and are right.  For fans in Houston, Wahoo was their champion.  Although he had success pretty much wherever he went, I have discovered in the process of researching this article, that fans in Houston had a special bond with him.   

Wahoo would have one more run in the Crockett territory, defeating former partner Tully Blanchard for the National title, and having a 1986 Indian Strap Match series with Jimmy Garvin during the first Great American Bash tour.  He will be remembered as one of the greatest who ever lived. 

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