- Edward Pardue

This column is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Rita Kimber, who was a true friend to me during the times when I did not have many.

1985 was an awesome year for JCP and a great time to be a wrestling fan. I feel, from the bottom of my soul, that there was not a better time to be a wrestling fan. The angles presented and the workers who proficiently carried out the angles were without equal. When you read this column, you might understand why.

James J. Dillon was riding high in the saddle with his Long Riders, Black Bart and Ron Bass. Bart and Bass were the Mid Atlantic tag team champions and Bass had the Mid Atlantic Heavyweight title. Between Bart's sheer power and Bass's crafty mind, this duo ran roughshod on the competition throughout the area. And, they raised quite a bit of hell outside the ring as well.

Ricky Steamboat's Mid Atlantic Gym had been operating for about a year or so. Well, Bass and Bart, along with Dillon, decided to visit the gym and perhaps make the gym their home base. Vic Steamboat ( Rick's younger brother, of ICW fame ) met and greeted the boys at the door. Bass and Bart trashed the place, called a guy who looked like Klondike Bill ( R.I.P. ) an " old geezer " , spilled eggs and chalk on the floor, stole vitamins and essentially acted the the end of the horse you don't put a carrot in front of, until Vic politely asked the cowpunchers to leave. Dillon and the boys took offense, and questioned the younger Steamboat as to who the greatest wrestler of all was, placing him on the bench press with heavy weights on his chest when Vic answered it was Ricky Steamboat. For the record, and speaking as a fan, that was without question, one of the funniest angles I have ever seen in my life. God, those days were fun.

Speaking of J.J. Dillon, 1985 was the year he made the mistake of going after Dick Slater. The Funk brothers, The Long Riders, Ox Baker... how many people tried to collect that bounty? Now, if Dick Slater had both arms and legs tied behind his back, was blindfolded, and his mouth was taped shut, I MIGHT have the courage to go after the bounty with a loaded machine gun.

Then again, I don't think so. LOL. Slater was legit tough and J.J. Dillon found out the hard way, as Slater force fed the women's panties wearing manager his own wanted poster. I personally, have never really liked "bounty" angles, but this one was played out really well. Then again, Dillon and Slater are two ultimate professionals, and I expected nothing less.

What, in twenty words or less, is the Latin Boogaloo? Well, it's Manny Fernandez in the wrestling ring. Manny had a great series of matches with another newcomer, Arn Anderson. This started in Georgia, with Ole Anderson and Thunderbolt Patterson. ( For the record, Arn, the hat was a little too much...lol. ) At this point, Arn really hadn't developed the interview style that would become one of his trademarks throughout his career, but the in ring action between these two was intense. As always, two professionals and you've got great action.

Jimmy Valiant had just came back from a "Loser Leaves Town Match" to continue his feud with Paul Jones. Enlisting help from "Avalanche" Buzz Tyler and a few others who would (I guess) go on to form The Street People (one of my guilty pleasures). Jones had at his disposal The Barbarian, Kabuki, Superstar Graham, and Abdullah the Butcher. Despite the odds, Boogie Woogie fought on (and on and on and on...lol) with Jones. Good wrestling?

Not really... but a LOT of fun. Tyler was fired from JCP because of a money dispute with Dusty Rhodes, involving the Mid Atlantic Title, but others stepped up to help Valiant wage war with the evil Paul Jones.

Tully Blanchard found his "Perfect 10" in Baby Doll in 1985. Pretty? Oh, man. I fought my way through ten cops to ask her to marry me. Of course, since I was 11 years old at the time, I doubt she would've been interested.  More...