Wrestling: What We Miss from the Old NWA

The "Boogie Woogie Man Jimmy Valiant" was one of the best characters in the Carolinas during the early 1980s. He would feud with the likes of Paul Jones and his cast of bad apples.

Valiant was a fan favorite for his biker-style and back-roads appeal, holding several Mid-Atlantic championships in Jim Crockett's promotion.

Crockett and the other eight members of the Board of Directors were the brain children of the NWA, and in the 1970s and 1980s, their brand of wrestling, creativity and excitement, especially in locales like North Carolina, Texas, Florida, Portland and Memphis led to the popularity of wrestlers like Austin Idol, Tommy Rich, Steve Keirn and Eddie Gilbert.

Valiant was a Kayfabe mainstay in the Carolinas, but wrestlers like Bruiser Brody, Buggsy McGraw and Dusty Rhodes would travel the south to help promote and challenge for national and world gold.

Most of us who grew up watching Gordon Solie or Lance Russell on a weekly basis have missed some of the great things the NWA showcased during this era before WCW took over and eventually was sold to WWE.

Interviews

They were some of the best ever done, back then.

Ric Flair and Roddy Piper yelling back and forth at each other. Dusty Rhodes doing his "White Man Rap."

St. Slaughter and Don Kernodle with Rick Steamboat and Jay Youngblood being told by Sandy Scott that they all would compete in a cage match for the World Tag-Team Titles.

Jimmy Valiant looking like he was high on life while Bob Caudle interviews him.

Those are the things I remember about Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. The talking and jiving was as good as the wrestling.

Bull Rope Matches

There was nothing better than seeing Dusty Rhodes or some other big Texan (Dick Murdoch, Blackjack Mulligan) battle with a big old bull rope with a cowbell in the middle.

The opponents could use the rope and the bell to inflict considerable damage to their opponents and usually bring the crowd to its feet.

Bruiser Brody

He was never one to stay long, but when Bruiser Brody came to town, look out.

He was flamboyant and a crowd favorite. He could mix it up with just about anyone and loved playing to the crowd.

His popularity overseas and in Texas is legendary. Brody also had some great stints in Florida while wrestling Ric Flair and Dory Funk Jr.

Loser Leave Town Matches

Why is it that these cannot be incorporated in wrestling anymore?

I guess retirement matches have become the new rave.

Tommy Rich caused Ted DiBiase to lose his Georgia Championship Wrestling Television Champion to Brad Armstrong because he paraded around as a masked man while he "left town."

We would hot have had the "Midnight Rider" without these matches or other gimmicks like Barry Windham's "Dirty Yellow Dog".

They were truly awesome.

The Great American Bash

Summer would not be the same without the Bash, which traveled all over and gave some of the mid-card wrestlers or tag-team wrestlers a chance to challenge for titles.

Ricky Morton wrestled Ric flair. The Road Warriors competed in singles matches and we saw some of the best feuds in the business.

All of this was part of Dusty Rhodes' fertile mind.

When it was moved out of the south, it lost luster and momentum.

Great Tag Team Action

The Jim Crockett Cup was established so that the best of the best could complete to see which tag team was the best of all time.

The Road Warriors, The Horsemen, The Midnight Express. Even smaller teams like Mike Graham and Steve Keirn or The Fantastics—they all competed.

If there was ever a Super Bowl of tag teams, this was it.

Jim Cornette and His Tennis Racket

The prized gift from his mama.

Cornette is another fertile mind that could come up with great story lines and was on the booking committee.

He helped bring the Midnight Express to prominence when they feuded with The Horsemen, The Road Warriors and the Rock & Roll Express.

Champion vs. Champion

We loved seeing Ric Flair wrestle Rick Martel from the AWA or Bob Backlund from the WWE.

We don't see that anymore.

Wouldn't it be great to see John Cena take on Sting or Mr. Anderson or even Gunner if he wins the title?

Fans would have flocked to see Brett take on Jerry Lawler when he was AWA champion.