Paul Jones and Blackjack Mulligan continued their program that had started in late 1975.  Jones had captured the United States Heavyweight Championship in a one-night tournament in November 1975 (prompted by Valentine’s career-ending injury).  Mulligan, who was feuding with Tim Woods (a survivor of that ill-fated plane crash) at the time and it was Woods’ interference that cost the tall Texan a chance at the title that night.  However, Mulligan didn’t let that stand in the way of his quest for the U.S. title.  In March of 1976, Blackjack finally took the strap from Jones in a hard fought battle in Greensboro, N.C.  These two continued their war throughout the year, entertaining fans up and down the East Coast for many months!    

Wrestling’s version of March Madness occurred during March 1976, as a tournament was underway to crown a new Mid Atlantic Television Champion.  Paul Jones had forfeited the belt in November 1975 after winning the U.S. title.  This TV tournament actually began in February 1976 and continued through March and into April.  The “Final Four” of this tourney were Angelo Mosca, Tim Woods, Tiger Conway, and long-time JCP hero Johnny Weaver.  The semi final matches saw Woods take the measure of Conway and Mosca over Weaver in a very heated and controversial bout.  This set up the final match for mid April.  Mosca once again used his “win by any means” attitude to emerge victorious and capture the TV title.    

Mosca and Paul Jones would trade the TV title back and forth every couple of months for the remainder of 1976.  This feud would be another barnburner for JCP and a few other high level wrestlers would also hold the title during the last few months of the year.  Tim Woods, Greg Valentine, and Rufus R. Jones were three stars that would add their names to the list of Mid Atlantic Television champions.    

One of the highlights of April was the appearance of the “Eighth Wonder of the World” in the Mid Atlantic area.  Andre the Giant made a short stop here, teaming with Wahoo McDaniel and Rufus R. Jones to battle Ric Flair and his “cousins”, Gene and Ole Anderson.  This “feud” was precipitated when Flair and the Andersons attacked Rufus on television.  Rufus vowed revenge, and called upon Wahoo (these two had previously taken the World Tag Team title from the Andersons in January) and the visiting Andre to settle the score.  Fans flocked to the arenas to see Andre in person and the Giant didn’t disappoint his loyal followers.    

Once again, the N.W.A. World Champion Terry Funk made a swing through the area.  This time, Wahoo McDaniel actually pinned Funk during a non-title match on television, but when the two met with the title on the line, Funk kept his crown in some very close, exciting matches.   The Mid Atlantic region always had its share of top contenders for the N.W.A. title, and whoever the reigning champ was, they were very tentative about making a stop in the Carolinas and Virginia.    

A major title change occurred in May of 1976, as newcomer Dino Bravo teamed with veteran Tim Woods to wrest the World Tag Team Championship from the hated Anderson brothers.  This exciting new team would hold the belts until the end of June, when Gene and Ole recaptured the straps.  The Andersons would continue to hold on to them until September, when they left the area (with the belts) and went to Georgia.  When Gene and Ole returned to the Mid Atlantic area, they were met by their “cousin” Ric Flair and his new partner Greg Valentine.  This heel/heel feud got off to a rousing start, as Flair & Valentine took the tag team gold from the Andersons in December.  Fans soon realized that this was only the beginning of this war, which did continue well into 1977.

The latter part of 1976 was just as exciting as the first.  The team of the Mongols, who had been competing in the area for most of the year, split up.  Geto Mongol left in late summer.  Bolo Mongol, with his manager Boris Malenko, engaged in a feud with Wahoo McDaniel in September.  Malenko had accused Wahoo of destroying his false teeth and sent Bolo after the Indian warrior for revenge.  After several bouts, Wahoo won a “Loser Leave Town” match and Bolo was history in the area…or was he?  In a classic swerve, the wrestler “Bolo Mongol” left Mid Atlantic wrestling, then on the same television program, Malenko introduced his newest charge…the Masked Superstar.  No one realized it at the time, but the man under the mask was none other that Bill Eadie, who has just been “run out of town” wrestling as “Bolo Mongol”!  This was one of the cleverest re-packaging of a wrestler anyone had seen.  It wasn’t until many years later, after Eadie once again re-invented himself as Demolition Ax that many people realized that Eadie was in fact Bolo Mongol AND Masked Superstar!

Masked Superstar also put up something very valuable in his matches—his mask!  He offered $5,000 (along with his mask) to any wrestler who could defeat him.  Even when JCP brought in Andre the Giant to accept the challenge, Superstar remained undefeated and masked for the final three months of the year.  Malenko also brought in the rough Kim Duk to join his “family”.  This trio would wreck havoc on the JCP area well into 1977.    

N.W.A. World Champion Terry Funk made another late swing through the area in December.  He battled Paul Jones in several close encounters, each time with Jones coming so very close to winning the title.  This would be Funk’s last run here as the World Champ, as he would drop the strap to Harley Race in early 1977.    

All in all, this year started off with many questions for Jim Crockett Promotions.  But, by the end of December, all those had been answered and it was another very successful 12 months for Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling.    

NEXT MONTH: 

A look a the Mid Atlantic career of Greg Valentine