This month we will look at “The Pearl Of The Orient” The Great Kabuki and the impact he made in Jim Crockett Promotions. 

In 1982, the Great Kabuki gimmick had become a phenomenon around the country,  and the gimmick got way over on WTBS in late 1981 as Kabuki w/Gary Hart as his manager became one of the top heels in the entire world and spawned many imitators around the country. Jim Crockett  even got in it by creating “The Ninja” gimmick in 1982 for Mr. Pogo, but no one could do it as good as Kabuki could. So after a big run in World Class Championship Wrestling, Kabuki joined Jim Crockett Promotions in February 1983. 

After a few weeks in the territory, Kabuki started feuding with Jimmy Valiant in a feud that would go on for the rest of the year. It all started during a match on TV, where Kabuki sprayed Valiant with red mist in his face and blinded him and in matches after that when Valiant fought Kabuki, he wore goggles over his eyes to protect himself. Also at this time, Kabuki was teaming with the Magic Dragon and they feuded with Valiant & Rufus R. Jones in tag matches and Gary Hart got in the act as well a couple of times and in fact in a cage match between Valiant & Rufus vs. Kabuki & Hart, Hart threw fire at Valiant’s face. In June 1983, Kabuki defeated Jos LeDuc for the NWA TV title and that only added to the feud between Valiant & Kabuki as they fought over the belt all over the territory. The feud came to a head in August 1983 as Kabuki defeated Jimmy Valiant in a Loser-Leaves-Town match and Valiant had to leave the area, but a “good friend” of Valiant’s came in named “Charlie Brown from outta town”. It was obvious to everyone that it was Valiant, but the fans really didn’t care at the time and they loved it. “Brown” & Kabuki feuded all the way up until Starrcade 83 where they met in a NWA TV title match which “Brown” won. “Brown” didn’t even defend his title as after he won it, he left the area and good ol’ Jimmy Valiant returned.  

1984 started with Kabuki basically lost in the shuffle. He teamed with Ivan Koloff a little bit in Ivan’s feud with the Mosca’s, but in March 1984, Junkyard Dog entered the area and Kabuki started a feud with him. The feud was pretty good while it lasted with JYD getting the mist a few times, but both Kabuki and JYD would leave the area in late April. In February 1985, Kabuki returned to JCP with Paul Jones as his manager and he resumed his feud with Jimmy Valiant attacking him many times, but after about a month, Kabuki left the area for good. 

NEXT MONTH:

We will look at the year 1984, which would be a transitional year for Jim Crockett Promotions that would be the foundation of a huge run that would last until 1988.