The Magnificent Zulu (Gulas-Welch 1975, Jarrett 1980) One of the first super muscled wrestlers of the 1970s came through the territory in 1975 and headlined some shows. He even briefly held the area's second level title at the time, the Mid-America championship. Zulu though wasn't much in the ring. Once someone got past his impressive look there wasn't much left to enjoy. Zulu returned very briefly in 1980 but only stayed a few weeks. Zulu is noted for working most all the territories in the 1970s and into the 1980s but usually not staying anywhere very long as he often seemed to butt heads with the promotion. The business almost always needed someone with size and a good physique so Zulu worked well into the 1980s in various promotions throughout the country.

Ron Mikoloczyk (Gulas-Welch 1976, Jarrett 1984) The theory behind using this football player seemed to be that his athletic background would lend some credibility and maybe some additional publicity to wrestling if fans made the connection. If a football player wrestled and gained some mainstream press for the promotion then so much the better also. The problem with Mikoloczyk was he was not very fluid in ring and behind the mic he wasn't very smooth. The promotion did hide him some in 1976 by pairing him with Tommy Rich but it really was a pairing that lacked in punch and pizzazz. Mikoloczyk reappeared in Memphis for a short time in 1984 but did not receive much of a push at the time.

Don Ross (Gulas 1977) Here is another muscle man who received a major push as a fan favorite. Ross was billed as Mr. America and had a tremendous physique, maybe the most impressive of any one in the business up to that point in time. Ross was introduced in 1977 via a videotape from Detroit where he was alongside veteran manager George Cannon. Ross was then brought to the area and helped turn Lanny Poffo into a fan favorite. Ross though was very robotic in ring at this stage in his career and it became obvious he was receiving the push he was receiving because of his physique. Ross would continue bodybuilding over the years and would also wrestle some from time to time eventually becoming a heel elsewhere named Ripper Savage.

Sweet Daddy Siki (Jarrett 1985) No doubt in an earlier time, the colorful Canadian was a major player in the business. By 1985, Siki had not been in wrestling's mainstream in years. Suddenly, one Saturday manager Tux Newman warned Jerry Lawler that he had better beware because his new charge, Siki, was out to get him. Oddly enough though, Siki came out to the interview set on the TV show and approached Lawler and turned face by claiming Lawler had helped him out in the past. The whole segment was baffling and some fans no doubt were left wondering exactly what to think about Siki. While showing some fire and enthusiasm in-ring, Siki's presence still somehow felt out of place. Siki would work for a few weeks in the promotion before disappearing.

Honorable mention: Mr. Oshira (1980) Nick Gulas used this Japanese star in 1980 as a heel. With his promotion slipping away, Gulas turned Oshira face to feud against Tojo Yamamoto, his manager. What was baffling was how Oshira could communicate with fans, a major plus for a fan favorite, since he spoke very little English.  

Worst Heels

Defined as: a ring villain, significantly pushed by the promotion, who for various reasons couldn't be taken seriously.

Sweet Daddy O (Jarrett 1982) Garnering some tremendous mainstream publicity of the time due to the appearances of Andy Kaufman in the area, this wrestler was brought in one week as a new member of Jimmy Hart's First Family. He was inserted into the feud when he briefly got involved in Lawler's feud against Hart. This was pretty much the extent of O's involvement in the area. It is baffling though that such a high profile feud as that one bubbling with Lawler, Hart and Kaufman would have a new area entry play a role and then disappear as quickly.

The Black Ninja (Jarrett 1984)-Jack Reiher had had a big run in the area previously as Sabu the Wildman. Apparently not wanting to bring Sabu back, Reiher was saddled with this lame, uncreative gimmick. Again, with wrestling's popularity saturated via cable TV such bland ideas showed how fresher ideas were more colorful and attractive to the more stale ideas that would have worked just a few years earlier.

Abdul Ghadafi (Jarrett 1985)-Hot on the heels of the U.S. dealing with Libyan leader Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadahafi, the promotion introduced a heel with a similar last name. Although ethnic heels are part of the fabric of wrestling's history, such gimmicks were fading from favor at this time. The fact that this guy debuted so quickly and rose up the ranks with little fan fair and held the Mid-America title during a down time in the area shows how unfocused the promotion became for a few weeks during this year.

The Great Kabuki (Jarrett 1986) At one time, the Great Kabuki was one of the most unique personalities in wrestling. Making a splash in such territories as Georgia and World Class, Kabuki was unlike other heels of the early 1980s. He had a painted face and mysteriously spewed a colored mist. Paired with manager Playboy Gary Hart, Kabuki was an intriguing bad guy not only with his appearance but with his quick, darting in-ring action. By 1986 though, the Great Kabuki, without Gary Hart, was an act that had fallen victim to various Ninjas and other gimmicks so close to what Kabuki had been that his gimmick meant less than it had in years. The fact that Kabuki had slowed some physically didn't help either. By the time Kabuki hit the area in 1986 many area fans had seen plenty of gimmick characters and the once distinctive Oriental superstar was, despite a quick push near the top of cards, just another face in the crowd.

Dennis Hall with Dolly Parker (Jarrett 1986) Hall, once a mighty star in the area, returned for a short-lived run in late 1986. Although Hall wrestled for years in various territories many fans really had no clue as to who Dennis Hall was since the majority of his ring career and success was limited to the late 1960s and into the mid 1970s with Nick Gulas and Roy Welch. Hall though was an accomplished star in the territory having been half of a number of quality tag teams over the years. Except for a brief heel turn, the clean-cut Hall had been one of the area's most popular stars. By 1977 and into 1978, Hall slowed down his ring appearances and moved to Georgia where he often worked on the Atlanta TV show. Years later, in 1986, Hall popped back up in Memphis as a heel and with a busty blonde at his side called Dolly Parker. The sight of a middle-aged Hall with a Dolly Parton-wanna-be was quite a sight but not enough of one to get a positive buzz in the area. Lasting a brief time, Hall would disappear from the area and the business once again.

Worst Managers

Defined as: a ringside participant who should have stayed in the dressing room.

Ken Hawk (Gulas 1977)-After years of having Saul Weingeroff, Dr. Ken Ramey and Sir Clements, among others, as lead manager in the area, Nick Gulas turned to this guy, most noted as TV enhancement talent, as a lead ringside manager. Hawk had been around the business for a number of years but had never broken though main event status for Gulas. Suddenly, in 1977, he's in a suit and managing the Samoans. How could this guy who had never won a match on TV be the brains behind one of the top teams in the area? Surely, at this point some fans recalled Weingeorff, Ramey and Clements and wondered what had gone wrong.

Sir John (Gulas 1980)-This manager lasted all of one week during the summer Nick Gulas went out of business. He was tall and gangly and was billed as hailing from England . He was brought in as the manager of the Manchurians. He was truly lost at ringside and one week later was lost to wrestling history.

Tommy H (Jarrett 1985)-He looked like Jimmy Hart. He sounded like Jimmy Hart. He laughed like Jimmy Hart. Fans though knew Jimmy Hart and Tommy H was no Jimmy Hart. When Jimmy Hart left the promotion in 1985 for the WWF, this man was brought in and appeared at ringside for Eddie Gilbert. Tommy H was then around for a few weeks. While it might seem like a clever idea on some level, it really was not a good idea as duplicating someone as pivotal as Jimmy Hart could not be done. A few weeks later, Tux Newman is introduced as the new lead manager in the area and Tommy H was gone. Tommy was a longtime fan who often harassed Jimmy Hart around the territory over the years. When Hart left, the idea to bring H in as a replacement was born. While talented, H was in a no-win situation from the very start.

Nate the Rat (Jarrett 1987)-Introduced as Nathaniel Whitlock, this manager was quickly tabbed Nate the Rat. While the promotion never recovered from the loss of Jimmy Hart as a manager they had their moments with JD Costello and Downtown Bruno. Whitlock though debuted as manager to Bobby Jaggers. It quickly seemed as if Whitlock had been paired with Jaggers in order just to have a manager nearby as nothing really distinguished Whitlock as a manager. Nate returned in 1988 and became involved in the scenarios that involved Jerry Lawler and Dutch Mantel which turned Lawler heel. Earlier in that year though, Ronnie Gossett had debuted and had made quite an impression as a manager. Once again, Whitlock had shoes to fill that would not fit.

Boss Winters (Jarrett 1988)-Enhancement talent with possibly the coolest names in enhancement talent history, Rough & Ready, came onto the scene with a ready made manager, Boss Winters. Now, why a team that was destined to put others over needed a manager is in and of itself one of wrestling's great mysteries.  

Worst Face Teams

Defined as: a regular tag team of fan favorites who despite their push by the promotion couldn't make the fans care about them.

George Gulas & Rocky Brewer (Gulas 1980)-Pushed as Mid-America tag champions, this team may have been the worst set of Mid-America champions ever. While we already discussed George Gulas, it should be noted that during much of his career he had been involved in tag teams with Dennis Hall, Tojo Yamamoto and Bobby Eaton, solid workers who could at least partly make any team with George watchable. In 1980 though, Rocky Brewer came to town. Initially introduced as Rocky Stallone then Rocky Stallone Brewer and finally as Rocky Brewer, Brewer was a far cry from Hall, Yamamoto or Eaton. Brewer was still pretty green in the ring at the time which meant Gulas was the veteran of the team. George, of course, could not carry his end of a match and surely could not hide the weaknesses of a partner in a match. It was no doubt the culmination of what many feared when Nick Gulas and Jerry Jarrett parted ways in 1977, George Gulas in main events and fans running away by the droves.

Tim Ashley & Steve Constant (Jarrett 1985)-Here are two more guys with good looks and muscular bodies. And here were two more with very little experience who were given a fairly prominent push. Ashley & Constant did have the good fortune to work a program against The Nightmares (Ken Wayne & Danny Davis). It is evident though that Ashley & Constant were carried by the Nightmares. The fact that Ashley & Constant were hyped pretty big but had trouble living up to the hype speaks of how disappointing the team falls into history.

Kenya & Kenyata Kondorie (Jarrett 1985)-This team was introduced in 1985 as International tag champions. A TV appearance though shows the team missing moves and not connecting with the studio audience. A week later, they were gone and the tag titles forgotten.

The Freedom Fighters (Jarrett 1985-86)-Two large muscled guys debut and are given a quick push, no doubt because of their look due no doubt to the importance looks had gained in the business. Over time, of course, these two would become the Ultimate Warrior and Sting. When they debuted though they were greener than blades of grass after a spring rain. In ring, they were lost and on the mic they were also lost. In time, Buddy Wayne was added as their manager which helped their communication problems. It would take time and regular in-ring activity before they improved which area fans would not have the chance to see as a few months after their debut they moved on to Bill Watts' Mid-South promotion.

Ron & Don Bruise (Jarrett 1988)-In time, this team would see some success in the business over the years. As they were introduced into the business though they were tall, bland babyfaces who were buddies with Mark Miller, lead singer of the country music group, Sawyer Brown. The fact that their size likely gave them a push before they were ready in-ring hampered them at this point in time.  

Worst Heel Teams

Defined as: a regular tag team of villains the fans wouldn't even boo.

The Masked Pittsburgh Stealers (Gulas 1974)-Apparently someone in the office was a football fan. In 1974 a masked team dressed in black and gold and called the Pittsburgh Stealers (S-t-e-a-l-e-r-s, not S-t-e-e-l-e-r-s) debuted with Sam Bass serving briefly as their manager. Of course, the Pittsburgh Steelers were one of pro football's top teams at the time. This heel team though never clicked with fans and they were soon working low on cards before fading into oblivion.

Rip & Buzz Tyler (Gulas 1977)-No, this Rip Tyler was not the better known Rip Tyler, who was best known for teaming with Eddie Sullivan. This Rip Tyler was skinny and pale. His partner, Buzz, was heavyset with curly hair. Managed by Billy Hines, this team had worked some independents in the South before receiving a push against Len & Joey Rossi for Gulas although they never caught the attention of area fans. Rip suffered injuries at the hands of Tojo Yamamoto and that ended his run in the area. Word has it the other Rip Tyler (the late Dean Vaughn) was less than thrilled someone was using the ring name he had spent years developing and maintaining. Buzz hung around a few weeks after Rip's injury but faded away not long after.

Duke Myers & Rick Sanchez (Gulas 1980)-Here were two solid pros who had a long history in the area. Myers had teamed years previously with Terry Garvin while Sanchez had been in the area off and on for years. These two were thrown together as Nick Gulas' promotion began losing steam in the early part of 1980. While Myers had been out of the area for years, Sanchez had not received a major push with the promotion and seeing him working near the top of area cards seemed a bit suspect to some fans.

Gypsy Joe & Skull Murphy (Gulas 1980, Jarrett 1980)-This Skull Murphy was not the fabled Skull Murphy from decades previous. Out of the blue Murphy and area veteran Gypsy Joe trip Southern tag champions Jimmy Valiant & Rocky Johnson to lay claim to the titles. While that win was shocking to Memphis fans, where the match occurred, due to the fact the pair was not familiar to fans because Murphy was new to the area and Joe had worked the previous three years for Nick Gulas, the shocker was yet to come. Area legend Jackie Fargo decided to retire. On his farewell tour through the Gulas circuit, Fargo teamed with "nephew" Randy to face Murphy & Joe. Fargo had been in the area for almost thirty years but his sendoff wasn't against longtime rival Tojo Yamamoto or even a team Yamamoto managed but the unusual and suddenly successful team of Murphy & Joe.

Hector Guerrero & The Masked Dr. Diablo (Jarrett 1987) One of the most fabled tag teams of the previous decade, Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee, capture the AWA tag championship and almost as soon as they do they are faced with a challenge from this team. Although the team was given a backstory as being top contenders from Mexico , it really seemed like they were being thrown to Lawler & Dundee for a reason other than that. When this team won the AWA tag titles everyone was dumbfounded. It would seem Lawler & Dundee losing the AWA tag titles to a team with deep roots in the area or against Lawler and/or Dundee would have made more sense. The team of Guerrero & Dr. D though were there not only to win the belts for a week but also to help get Steve Keirn over as a heel (he helped them win the titles) and eventually to have the two partners feud against each other. Still, having Lawler & Dundee win a prized tag championship only to lose it to a makeshift team seemed like a move that neutered any impact Lawler & Dundee would gain from winning the titles in the first place.  

Worst Gimmicks

Defined as: an idea that seemed cool but once it was revealed it was as cold as a cadaver on a slab in a mortuary.

Steve Kyle as Mighty Igor (Jarrett 1978) Steve Kyle had been in and around the area since the early 1970s. At one point in Alabama for promoter Bill Golden, he had teamed with Jerry Lawler and was billed as Jerry's brother, Steve Lawler. In 1978 though he returned to the Memphis promotion. This time though he dressed in an outfit very similar to that worn by the Mighty Igor. In ring, Kyle would bring toys to the ring and play with them prior to his match much like Igor would also. Area fans likely hadn't seen Igor although they may have been aware of him through the newsstand magazines. While many promotions used gimmick and characters used elsewhere such as Masked Assassins or Destroyers, few copied such a distinctive gimmick as Igor's gimmick like happened in the Memphis promotion in 1978. Credit the promotion for never leading fans to believe they were seeing the real Igor as they continued to bill him as Steve Kyle.

The (New) Fabulous Ones: Tommy Rich & Eddie Gilbert (Jarrett 1984) For a year and a half the area had fallen under the spell of Steve Keirn & Stan Lane , also known as The Fabulous Ones. When Keirn & Lane left the area, the promotion was left without a lead babyface tag team. Placing Tommy Rich with Eddie Gilbert seemed like it should work and maybe at some level it should have. The two had a lot going for them, they were both popular and both were skilled in the ring. The downfall though was when they were introduced as The New Fabulous Ones, which made Rich & Gilbert look like imitators of the area's most fabled tag team of the previous decade. While achieving some success it was quickly apparent that the fans could not be convinced that Rich & Gilbert together in this manner were as fabulous as Keirn & Lane together.

Bota the Witch Doctor (Jarrett 1985) While Kamala was a stretch of one's imagination if thought about for very long, Kamala did have a gimmick that lasted for a few years in various promotions. In 1985 though, Bota was introduced and honestly seemed like a poor man's Kamala. While Kamala's entry in 1982 was a bit bizarre it was also in the pre-WWF expansion period and the idea was a bit more creative then. In 1985 though such bizarre characters often came off looking cheap and contrived as opposed to some of the characters the WWF was unveiling.

The Undertaker, the Wolfman, Frankenstein & the Zombie (Jarrett 1988) The promotion had off and on used a number of horror movie themes with characters dating back into the 1960s with The Mummy. In 1988, Tommy Gilbert donned a mask and worked the area as Freddy, a take off on the character Freddy from the Nightmare on Elm Street movie series. Gilbert's Freddy was a hit with area fans so it is hard to argue against the promotion using the gimmick character. The problem though came when the promotion introduced a bevy of other horror movie inspired characters including The Undertaker, The Wolfman, Frankenstein and the Zombie. It was just too much of a stretch of one's imagination to enjoy too much of this kind of gimmick. Even if a fan enjoyed this type of character, the cartoonish WWF was creating cardboard characters right and left and doing it with tons of marketing and research behind each character.

The Black Prince & the Commission (1987) Brickhouse Brown was elevated to the top heel slot in the territory. Brown though was placed in a bad spot as he rose to the top of the promotion after Jerry Lawler had been involved with a long and successful feud against Austin Idol, Tommy Rich and Paul Dangerly (Paul E. Dangerously). Idol, Rich and Dangerly all left without the feud reaching its true expected climax. Brown was moved into the feud as a fan favorite who turned heel during a special referee assignment in a match between Idol and Lawler. When Idol departed, Lawler's next feud was set. After a few weeks, Brown announced he desired to be called the Black Prince, a nod to pop culture star Prince. The Prince then aligned himself with a number of area stars in a heel group. Among those who became Commission members were Carl Fergie, Don Bass, Downtown Bruno and others. While the group had its positives the timing and push of the group after the departure of Idol, Rich and Dangerly overall hurt the impact of the Commission as they didn't seem to measure up to the believability and seriousness of their predecessors. This was sad ultimately as a more thoughtful and focused push with Brown would have meant he could have meant more in his returns in later years in the territory. The fact that much of banter between Brown and Lawler had racial overtones, which at one time was standard practice in many promotions but by this point in time was a tired and outdated idea, also hurt the concept.  

Worst Use of Really Good Talent

Defined as: someone who was really talented but somehow never broke through while in the territory.

Disco Kid (Gulas 1978)-Before Hustler Rip Rogers entertained fans, he worked for Nick Gulas as Disco Kid. While he was still young in the business, it was apparent that his bump-taking ability and dedication to learning his craft was in place. While Disco Kid did receive somewhat of a push he seemed to get lost in a promotion that saw such varied wrestlers as The Beast, The Viking and even Heather Feather receive pushes during 1978. While young in the business, Disco Kid had a timely gimmick, a wrestler who loved disco music, and the desire and ability to turn into much more than he was allowed to at the time.

Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes (Jarrett 1979)-These two had spent about six months helping revive Nick Gulas's territory. As the lead heel team in the area, Gordy & Hayes not only attracted a lot of attention but also they gained some valuable experience. When they moved over to the Memphis promotion, they were placed into a TV match in their debut against Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee that was a hot main event match. But the three or four months Gordy & Hayes worked the territory they rarely worked near the top of the cards as The Blonde Bombers: Larry Latham & Wayne Farris with manager Sgt. Danny Davis held down the top heel team spot. While the Bombers were good, Gordy & Hayes, now billed as The Freebirds, were just as good and a bit more charismatic but the timing was not right. It would take Gordy & Hayes leaving for the Mid-South promotion before they would again be featured in the spotlight.

Steve Regal (Gulas 1980)-No, this Steve Regal is not the Steve Regal who worked for WCW and has worked for the WWE as William Regal. After gaining some attention in Memphis , Regal moved into the Gulas promotion in the spring of 1980. Almost as soon as debuting, tag partner Bobby Eaton turned heel on Regal. Suddenly, the promotion which could chug along well with Eaton as a heel had a photogenic and appealing babyface to thwart the hot heel Eaton. And for a brief time, Regal and Eaton feuded. Then Regal disappeared. No doubt, Gulas's promotion nearing it's end may have played into Regal's departure, it remains fascinating to speculate if a Regal feud against Eaton could have sparked the box office.

Scott Shannon (Jarrett 1984)-Having worked in other promotions as Scott McGhee, the son of veteran Geoff Portz, this competitor was given the name of Scott Shannon in Memphis. Other promotions had spotlighted the good on-the-mat skills Shannon had no doubt picked up from his father. In Memphis though, he came through at a time when the promotion was going through a run of circus-like characters, and Shannon , as talented as he was, got lost in the mix.

Jerry Stubbs as The Masked Superstar (Jarrett 1985)-Veteran Jerry Stubbs had made a living during the early 1980s working under a mask as Mr. Olympia in the Mid-South and in Alabama . In 1985, Stubbs debuted and worked a few weeks billed as The Masked Superstar in Memphis . Although his departure occurred right before the promotion kicked in with some great action revolving around Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler, Stubbs under a mask could have no doubt fit into the situation easily and could have made a Dundee foe after Lawler lost the loser-leaves-town match at the end of the year.  

All Hype, No Bite

Defined as: a wrestler or event that just didn't live up to all the hoopla.

Pepper Gomez (Gulas-Welch 1976) The star of many territories such as Northern California and Florida , this veteran competitor hit the area in late summer 1976. Off the bat, Gomez used an angle he had used in other territories to introduce himself. Gomez was billed as having an iron-clad stomach and offered other wrestlers to climb a ladder in the ring and jump off onto his stomach. Gomez would be unmoved by the impact. Gomez had used this angle in various territories over the years most notably to heat up a northern California feud against Ray Stevens. On one Saturday TV show, Dr. Ken Ramey and his Masked Interns took Gomez up on his challenge. Again, Gomez withstood the impact. Then one of the Interns climbed up the ladder and jumped off onto Gomez and landed on his throat, just like had happened in other angles like this that had involved Gomez. Automatically, Gomez was placed into a top tier feud against the Interns and chose Jackie Fargo as his tag partner. The feud only lasted a few weeks as Gomez apparently became disgruntled with his payoffs and left the promotion.

Shawnie Beau Wynn (Gulas 1977-79) Billed as a top notch prospect out of Nashville , this African-American prospect was paired with legendary area ringside manager Gentleman Saul Weingeroff as an apparent attempt to lend some instant credibility to Wynn. Weingeroff's better days were behind him at this point and the fact that Weingeroff was a face didn't help since he was always better suited as a heel. Despite the positive press given to Wynn by the promotion, he never caught on with fans and never rose above mid-card status. Likely his highest profile angle saw him tangle with powerhouse meanie Ox Baker. Fellow heel Leroy Rochester took offense to Baker's roughhousing of Wynn and came to the rescue. This led to Rochester 's face turn before he left the area where he would eventually go on to greater fame as the Junkyard Dog. It's a shame Wynn didn't catch on as he could have made an impact as an African-American star in the area in the late-1970s as Bearcat Brown was slowing down his career and Pez Whatley and Ray Candy were in and out of the area.

Harley Davidson (Jarrett 1984) Bill Dundee first introduced Jim Morris to the territory in late 1983 as part of his feud against The Fabulous Ones: Steve Keirn & Stan Lane . As 1984 started, a newcomer debuted who looked like the big man Dundee had briefly teamed with a few weeks before. This guy though was billed as Harley Davidson. Taking on a biker gimmick and teaming with Dirty Rhodes, Davidson was given a mid-level push on cards and the super push by announcer Lance Russell. The promotion though was coming off several years of hot running feuds and angles and suddenly the promotion had a group of wrestlers leave the promotion and those holes were filled in with a number of gimmick characters including Davidson. Davidson was the subject of a music video or two but disappeared in a few months only to show up in the WWF as Hillbilly Jim, no doubt a disappointment to all those who put forth the effort to get him over in Memphis as Harley Davidson.

The Phantom of the Opera (Jarrett 1985) Nearly a decade before this gimmick popped up a heel Jerry Lawler was running havoc in the area with his Army. One Saturday on the Memphis TV show a gigantic wooden box was sitting near the announce desk of Lance Russell and Dave Brown. The announcers were perplexed as to why the box was there and what was in the box. Finally, Lawler announced that in the box was a surprise for the upcoming house show. Lawler then slowly opened the box and the studio camera caught a brief glimpse of a man dressed like Frankenstein. This man would be called Dr. Frank and this clip is one of the most celebrated clips from the late 1970s. In 1985, Eddie Gilbert formed his own Army to battle Lawler. Then one Saturday a gigantic box was sitting in the studio. Gilbert eventually opened the box and revealed The Phantom of the Opera. By week's end the gimmick was gone from the area as apparently the fat lady had sung.

Big John Harris (Jarrett 1985) Super sized people seem custom-made for professional wrestling. Haystack Calhoun and Andre the Giant became legendary figures in the business because of their size and their hard work in developing their ring talents and personas. Surely when someone in the wrestling business lays their eyes on someone outside the normal size range of everyday people, dollar signs also flash across those eyes. Somewhere along the way, this large individual caught the eyes of someone in the wrestling business. Harris was brought into the territory in the summer of 1985. As an introduction, a music video was made that showed Harris eating a large breakfast and hanging around Jerry Jarrett & Tojo Yamamoto. Since Yamamoto was so short, the size difference really pointed out how big Harris was in real life. Eventually, Harris debuted in the area. In an interview with announcer Lance Russell, Harris answered every question the veteran announcer tossed his way with a short and quiet "Yep" setting up the big man as someone of few words. While all this had a certain compelling charm it all fell apart once Harris, who wrestled elsewhere as Silo Sam, actually got in the ring where he was slow and prodding. Harris' appearances in the area also likely meant less than what they could have due to the fact that the area had been home for years to super heavyweight Stan Frazier. While Frazier wasn't quite Billy Robinson in ring, he did have the luxury of history in the territory that lent him some credibility to area fans.  

Best Kept Secrets

Defined as: an angle, star or event that has gotten lost in time and in turn is a shame isn't remembered more fondly.

The Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl II (Jarrett 1980)-In 1979, Larry Latham & Wayne Farris wrestled Bill Dundee & Jerry Lawler on a Friday night. The match ended in controversy and a brawl followed in the Sports Arena's concession stand. That brawl may be the video clip many longtime fans most associate with the Memphis wrestling promotion. The brawl is a great event that helped the promotion fire up the crowds that summer. In 1981, the teams of Eddie Gilbert & Ricky Morton and Masa Fuchi & Mr. Onita with manager Tojo Yamamoto participated in another Tupelo concession stand brawl that many feel topped the 1979 version. Lost in the mix sometimes is a 1980 Tupelo concession stand brawl pitting Sergeant Danny Davis' Blonde Bombers team of Larry Latham & Wayne Farris against Ricky & Robert Gibson which once again is a wild piece of wrestling action caught on videotape.

The legendary Lou Thesz is a bad guy. (Gulas-Welch 1974) Wrestling's true icon, Lou Thesz, spent a lot of time in the area in the 1970s as he wound down his active ring career. In 1974, a brash heel named Jerry Lawler was stirring up trouble in the area. One of his main opponents then was Tommy Gilbert. During 1973 and 1974 the Southern junior heavyweight title began getting much more notice than in previous years. The title fell into Gilbert's grasp and later, Gilbert dropped it to Thesz. Thesz held the belt for a few weeks and lost it back to Gilbert. In the midst of all this, Lawler was hot on the trail of the title as well so an alliance to stop Gilbert was formed that featured Thesz and Lawler. A heel Lawler and a reluctant heel Thesz then battled Gilbert and partner Roughhouse Fargo. At the other end of the feud, Lawler downed Gilbert to win the title while Thesz saw the error of his ways of teaming with the devious Lawler. It was an interesting twist that saw Gilbert benefit from the feud with Thesz as did Lawler, a nice gift from the legendary Lou Thesz.

Crazy Luke Graham & King Ripper Collins (Gulas 1977) Luke Graham dated back into the 1960s in the area as a major attraction. His return in 1975 cemented his place as one of the territory's great bad guys. A few years later, Graham returned and this time he brought along a flamboyant tag partner named King Ripper Collins. Collins was a veteran of the ring wars and worked for years on the west coast. While the territory was in the midst of major transition due to the split between Nick Gulas and Jerry Jarrett, Gulas' end was treated to the heel tactics of Graham & Collins. Since the promotion rarely received any publicity in the newsstand magazines, most fans outside the area were unaware of this team. Together, Graham & Collins were the top heel team of Gulas for months and were quite the team. Graham's odd ring behavior and sneaky illegal tactics coupled with Collins' sneering promos and effeminate style infuriated fans. A testament to the power of Graham & Collins' ability to draw heat in the area is highlighted when the promotion decided to turn The Russian Stomper into a babyface. It was 1977 and America was in a cold war against Russia . In simplistic wrestling terms, most anyone billed as a Russian in wrestling was also a heel. When the promotion made the Stomper a fan favorite, they paired him with Graham & Collins in a tag match. During the match, Graham & Collins ignored their tag partner and finally the Stomper had enough and attacked his partners. The fact that Graham & Collins were able to turn a Russian heel into a babyface in the 1970s should speak volumes. A few months later, Graham & Collins were still creating havoc when promoter Nick Gulas announced a surprise for the team. He had signed them for a battle of the brutes match against the dangerous team of The Sheik & Abdullah the Butcher, arguably the two top drawing heels of the 1970s. Graham & Collins worked a couple of weeks against The Sheik & Abdullah which eventually saw The Sheik and Abdullah turn on each other. At the other end of the scenario though, Graham & Collins came out smelling like a rose and were still around as the area's top heel team.

Las Vegas Louie (Gulas 1978) In 1978, Nick Gulas introduced a ringside manager to the area named Las Vegas Louie. Fans understood Louie to have a good bit of money. Add that to the idea that he had a shady background and wanted to control wrestling in the Gulas circuit and a heel manager was born. Paired originally with Don (Fargo) & Ron Garfield and later with Tojo Yamamoto & Gypsy Joe, Louie was quickly in the middle of the action in the circuit. While a good bit over the top, Las Vegas Louie was actually one of the area's guilty pleasures during 1978 especially as babyface after babyface from Jackie Fargo to George Gulas to Bobby Eaton to Ken Lucas to Dutch Mantel all tried to get their hands on him. It finally took the three hundred plus pound female wrestler Heather Feather to get him in the ring and humiliate him.

The Jerry Lawler-Dutch Mantel feud (Jarrett 1982) In this writer's monthly columns for KM, 1982 was a busy year. It was difficult to list everything that occurred during the year in the column and in so doing this feud got short shrift in that article. As 1981 ended though, it seemed evident that the area's two top stars were Jerry Lawler and Dutch Mantel and it seemed somewhere down the line the two would end up facing each other. And they did face each other. And the fans were torn between the two. Mantel didn't make it easy for the fans either as he played a lone wolf type character who refused Lawler's assistance at various times when he needed it. The fans though were drawn to Mantel because of that very independent spirit and because of his willingness to stand up to various member of Jimmy Hart's First Family, who of course were dedicated to getting Lawler out of the way. It was Hart's First Family though that would bring Lawler & Mantel together eventually. For a few months though, Lawler and Mantel's battle over the area's top spot and the Southern title was an intriguing feud that played out in subtle and not so subtle ways.  

Five Who Didn't Work the Territory But Who Should Have

Defined as: five wrestlers (singles stars or tag teams or managers) who did not work the promotion on a regular basis but who would have made an intriguing impact on things if they had.

Eddie Mansfield-Many might look at this selection and wonder why a wrestler who "ratted out" the business in 1984 would make this list. Before 1984 though, say in the late 1970s, Mansfield would have made a very fascinating addition to the Memphis territory. Since Mansfield was a junior heavyweight and both major stars, Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee, were also in that size range, Mansfield would have made a great opponent for both. If he had been able to come in while fellow blonde Austin Idol was in the territory, they could have worked a program against the pair. Imagine Mansfield appearing on the interview set with a full length mirror proclaiming his good looks were going to make him a superstar. Naturally, Bill Dundee would take notice and a feud would be born. Mansfield working a feud against Jimmy Valiant would also have had intriguing possibilities.

Cowboy Bill Watts-Imagine the mid-1970s with Ron Fuller as Southern champion and Jerry Lawler in and out of the territory. Fuller and Watts could have had one of the first big men feuds in the area. Tapes of Watts wrestling in Florida and Georgia could be shown as Fuller put over Watts ' ability prior to Watts ' debut. The night of Watts ' debut he downs Fuller for the Southern title by using a pair of brass knucks. Ron's brother, Robert Fuller, happens to be in attendance and tries telling the referee what happened but Watts decks Robert and leaves with the title. Watts then uses the thirty day clause to avoid facing Ron again. Watts then claims he will destroy the Fuller family and accepts challenges from everyone else in the Fuller family, Robert Fuller, Jimmy Golden, Roy Lee Welch and Jackie Welch. Watts goes through them all. Finally, the thirty days are up and Robert Fuller demands to be at ringside for the rematch between Watts and Ron Fuller. Watts agrees but adds the returning Jerry Lawler will be in his corner. The rematch sees a wild melee with the title held up. The promotion then announces the championship would be awarded in a tournament in a few weeks. In the meantime, Watts & Lawler battle Ron & Robert Fuller. The Fullers get the best of Watts & Lawler for several weeks. During this time, Watts notices that his main responsibility has become protecting Lawler, a fact that Watts is so displeased with that he demands his first round tournament match be against Lawler. Lawler agrees to the match but demands that the loser of the match act as a second to the winner for thirty days. In the tournament, Lawler ends up downing Watts , who tries to use brass knucks on the King but ends up having them used on him. The final sees Ron Fuller down Lawler when Watts returns to ringside and bops Lawler with a pair of knucks leading to Fuller's pin. Lawler and Fuller would then feud over the title with Watts having to second Lawler. During the month, Watts would then be informed that a bounty had been placed on him by someone from another territory so he would face a revolving series of heels such as Abdullah the Butcher and The Mongolian Stomper. As his thirty day service to Lawler neared its end, Watts makes it clear he would soon be able to get his hands on Lawler. After a match with Fuller, Lawler would capture the title and Watts ' thirty days would end. As Watts then approaches Lawler, Phil Hickerson & Al Greene attack Watts and put him out for a number of weeks, as it becomes clear that Lawler had placed the bounty on Watts . In his absence, Lawler would drop the belt back to Fuller. Watts then would return and get his revenge on Hickerson, Greene and Lawler before leaving the area.

Killer Karl Kox-What if the Funk brothers had really given Jerry Lawler a bit more grief in 1981 and 1982? Imagine every partner Lawler could locate couldn't help him get rid of the terrible Texans. Finally, Lawler announces he has a mystery partner who knows the Funks real well. One Saturday the Funks practically take over the TV show and end up haranguing Lawler. Out of the blue a man wearing a western shirt, blue jeans and a baseball cap jumps out of the audience and destroys both brothers. That man would be Killer Karl Kox, whom Lawler had met on a recent ring appearance in Florida . Eventually, Kox & Lawler get rid of the Funks, for awhile any way, and win the tag titles. The fans take a liking to Kox because of his quirky interviews that often end up drowning out Lawler who cannot seem to control Kox when he gets wound up. As soon as Lawler & Kox win the tag titles, Bill Dundee and Dutch Mantel approach Lawler and ask him if he really understands whose side the Killer is on. Lawler & Kox act baffled but after a couple of weeks Dundee and Mantel eventually produce a photo of Kox accepting a payoff from Jimmy Hart. Kox claims Dundee & Mantel had doctored the photo and that his days of accepting money as a bounty hunter were long gone. Lawler recalls how Dundee & Mantel had often been jealous of him and that he felt once again they were jealous of his success with Kox since they (Dundee & Mantel) couldn't help him get rid of the Funks. The accusations though irritate Kox so much that he has enough and attacks Dundee & Mantel then demands they wrestle him & Lawler on the upcoming Monday night Memphis card after the rest of the matches. On that night, it is a brawl as Kox gets leveled with a chair early in the match and lies on the Coliseum floor. In ring, Lawler has his way against Dundee & Mantel. Unexpectedly, Jimmy Hart comes to ringside and revives Kox. In ring, the action stops, as Dundee & Mantel point out to Lawler what is going on with Kox & Hart. Suddenly, from the other side of the ring (the blind side of those in the ring) run the Funks who pound away at the three in the ring. Finally, Kox enters the ring and joins the Funks in the attack. As a last move, Kox takes Lawler to the outside of the ring and delivers his brainbuster to Lawler on the Coliseum floor. Afterwards, Hart hands Kox a handful of money. Lawler would be out of action for a few weeks while the Funks & Kox battle Dundee , Mantel and a few other partners avenging Lawler's injury. Eventually, Lawler would return and work a multi-week program against Kox ending with Lawler downing Kox in a loser-leaves-town match.

The Royal Kangaroos Lord Jonathan Boyd & Sir Norman Frederick Charles, III made an impact in a number of territories as a team in the 1970s including in the Mid-Atlantic area, the great Northwest and northern California . Boyd would later visit the area quite often as a member of the Sheepherders while Charles worked briefly on some cards as a solo in the late 1970s and then as a part of Jim Cornette's Dynasty in the GCW Superstars promotion. As a team though they never worked the territory. While manager Wild Red Berry and wrestler Al Costello and a number of partners had made the team known as The Fabulous Kangaroos famous, the Royal Kangaroos were a younger and grungier version of their Australian counterparts. Just think of the possibilities if Boyd & Charles had visited the territory in the mid-1970s. A heel feud against fellow Australians George Barnes & Bill Dundee could have kicked things off with the Kangaroos getting the best of Barnes & Dundee and sending Barnes packing. Along the way, Big Bad John appears on the scene. When he learns about Boyd & Charles in the area he warns everyone about how dangerous they are as he knew of them from a tour of Australia . Meantime, the Kangaroos notch up wins over Jerry Jarrett & George Gulas, as well as Tommy Gilbert & Ricky Gibson and Bill Dundee & Johnny Gray. Along the way, John becomes friends with Dundee (the pair actually held the Southern tag titles for a time in 1976) as John helps Dundee out in his feud against Dr. Ken Ramey's Masked Interns. John & Dundee plow through a number of teams until finally, Dundee tells fans he wants another shot at the Kangaroos with John as his partner. John agrees warily. The feud is brutal as John uses his motorcycle helmet on the Kangaroos and they in turn use boomerangs as illegal weapons. The feud winds down as the Interns return and engage Dundee & John in war while Boyd & Charles are faced with a challenge from Al Costello and fellow Fabulous Kangaroo Don Kent, who eventually win the feud.

Ted DiBiase-In 1977, Paul Orndorff spent several weeks in the area that summer working near the top of area cards. Almost from the start many felt that Orndorff was a star in the making. Around the same time in west Texas , Ted DiBiase was several years into a promising career. What though if DiBiase, like Orndorff, had spent some time in 1977 or 1978, working the Memphis territory? In his area debut, Lance Russell would interview DiBiase, who would humbly recount his father's career. Then in his TV ring debut DiBiase would upset a babyface Jerry Lawler. Lawler's loss would turn him heel and would set off several weeks of action between the two. Later, DiBiase teams with a young Robert Gibson or Wayne Farris against Phil Hickerson & Dennis Condrey as DiBiase & his partner could once again play the underdog role and briefly capture the Southern tag titles. Finally, DiBiase working a month long program against a subtle heel Lou Thesz would round out a three month stay in the area for a future superstar. At the end of the program, Thesz would declare DiBiase a future world champion.

Honorable mention-Ray Stevens Although Stevens worked the territory in the 1950s and made a shot or two in the territory in the late 1970s when the promotion began an association with the AWA, a longer stay would have been incredible for wrestling's blonde bomber. The bump-machine Stevens working against area legend Jackie Fargo would have been a pleasure as the two blondes could have slugged it out as some long lost ill feelings could have resurfaced. Stevens teaming around 1977 with a brash Jerry Lawler then turning face on him would have opened up an interesting set of possibilities. A Stevens feud against Bill Dundee might have popped Dundee into a major player in the business long before it actually happened.  

There's my thoughts and three quarters, if you will, what do you think? Visit the Memphis section of the Kayfabe Memories message board and feel free to discuss your own Memphis Hall of Shame.  

NEXT MONTH:

A return to looking at the territory year by year as we look at 1972 in depth.  

In Memory of

The scariest heel ever, The Sheik, who worked off and on for many years in the old Gulas-Welch territory.

and

Curt Hennig, whose appearances as AWA champion in late 1987 and into 1988, helped set up Memphis wrestling history when Jerry Lawler won the AWA title.  

Rest in peace, warriors.  

Get well, Pez Whatley, we're pulling for you!