Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson were never the top tag team during their stay in Memphis as the Rock n Roll Express.  That was largely in part to the overwhelming popularity of the Fabulous Ones, who at the time were perhaps the most popular tag team in the country.  When they went to Mid-South, the two quickly became crowd favorites.   

Jim Cornette also struggled with being number two; as a manager.  With Jimmy Hart the lead heel manager in Memphis, Cornette went down south along with his team the Midnight Express, Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton.  The Midnights quickly entered into feuds with Bill Watts, Magnum T.A., and Mr. Wrestling II.  They won the tag team championships, and were seemingly unbeatable….until Morton and Gibson came along.  The two teams immediately entered into a feud, switching the Mid-South tag titles many times.  Although there were some seismic like shifts backstage, Mid-South kept motoring along. 

The Feuds:

At the time of our card in Houston, there were some huge feuds brewing and boiling in the area.  Three of those made our card in Houston extremely memorable. 

Magnum T.A. had won the North American Title from Mr. Wrestling II just a month earlier in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  His feud with II had taken a twist when II introduced his “new” protégé, Mr. Wrestling …..II.  Confused?  So were we.  But, the original II became simply Mr. Wrestling, and his protégé, who had been known as Mr. Wrestling III, was now known as Mr. Wrestling II.  The two had engaged in heated staredowns and attacks on Mid-South television, and now had a match for T.A.’s North American title at the Coliseum.  T.A. received the second largest pop of the night, and the real Mr. Wrestling II received the second largest booing of the night.  The match was on second to last, and really got the crowd going.  At one point, Mr. Wrestling II tried to substitute himself for Mr. Wrestling III, but Magnum delivered the Belly to Belly to both min, and pinned them both!!!  Magnum survived the post match attack to walk away victorious!!! 

The next two feuds encapsulated themselves into one match:  The Main Event.  Hacksaw Duggan, who was in the midst of feuds with Krusher Khruschev and Nikolai Volkoff, was also in a mini feud with the “Big Cat,” Ernie Ladd.  Duggan and Ladd’s issue was over football, and later in the summer, the two would engage in a helmet and pads match that had no ring ropes for it.  As well, the Rock n Roll/Midnight feud was in full swing.  In a local interview with Paul Boesch, Cornette said that he had purchased the contract of Ladd for the night, and was going to team him with the Midnights.  He issued a challenge to Duggan and the team of his choice.  Later on in the broadcast, Duggan appeared with the Rock n Roll Express and the match was on.   

The loudest boos of the night were reserved for Cornette.  He was a bonafide heat machine.  And, he worked us into a frenzy, so by the time Duggan and the Rock n Rolls came out, we were ready to cheer like crazy.  And cheer we did.  Duggan and the Rock n Rolls came out together, and easily received the loudest pop of the night.  I can still remember the amount of shrieking that the many teenage girls in attendance that night performed.  My mom looked at my sister and remarked, “This is like the Beatles!!”  I asked, “Mom, What’s a Beatle?”  Both my mom and sister looked very bewildered.   

Duggan and the Express beat the Midnights and Ladd by disqualification, and ended the night of wrestling at the Coliseum with a very loud and sustained ovation.  Although the workrate was significantly lower when Duggan or Ladd was in the ring, the David vs. Goliath story actually worked both ways, as the smaller Express teams encountered trouble with their larger foes.   

The card was near sold out, and made me thirsty for more.  Unfortunately, I was never able to attend a Coliseum card again, although I watched many a match on television thanks to Paul Boesch.   

A few noteables:  Jay Youngblood appeared on the card, making his last appearance in Houston before his untimely death in 1985.  He was beaten by Krusher Khruschev.  Mr. Wrestling III, or the “new II,” was in actuality Ray “Hercules” Hernandez, who would be unmasked later that summer in the Mid-Atlantic area as one of the Assassins, and would go on to fame in other regions before moving on for an extended run in the WWF. 

It seemed like wrestlers always turned it up a notch whenever they were in Houston.  Whether it was the bigger regular crowds (Superdome crowds were usually the biggest draw on the circuit), or Paul Boesch, I am not sure.  One thing I do know…Houston wrestling was truly one of a kind. 

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