First up, let’s jump back to May 13, 1963. NWA world heavyweight champion, the great Lou Thesz fought Sam Steamboat in the main event. Lou was a true legend. Longtime Memphis promoter, Jerry Jarrett has called Thesz, “The greatest champion we ever had.”, and that’s saying a lot. The results say that Thesz won (on a technicality). Also on that card were the legendary Memphis tag team of the original “Heavenly Bodies”, Al & Don Greene.
Let’s move forward 3 years to May 13, 1966. This packed card had a main even featuring the Von Brauner Bros. w/Saul Weingeroff vs. Herb Welch & Al Costello. At the time, The Von Brauner’s were hugely over as one of the top heel teams in the country. Al Costello was also famous as being in one of the greatest teams ever, the Fabulous Kangaroos. Another match that caught my attention is Jackie Fargo teaming with Billy Wicks against Mario Galento & “Crazy” Luke Graham. Fargo was one of the cities most popular wrestlers during the 1960’s. Billy Wicks, along with Sputnik Monroe were considered Memphis wrestling’s first legends from their feud in the late 1950’s. When you talk about the popularity of Jackie Fargo & Jerry Lawler in Memphis , Billy Wicks has to be included in that group. In the late 1950’s, no wrestler was more popular in Memphis , than Billy Wicks.
Two years later, on May 13, 1968, the main event had Eddie Graham and Lester Welch teaming up against Don Carson and the Red Shadow. Carson and the Red Shadow teamed up a lot over the years and you can even find them in Memphis a decade later. Eddie Graham eventually became the owner/promoter for Florida and was instrumental in supporting Jerry Jarrett, who spilt from Nick Gulas in 1977. Also on the card was Joe Scarpa. Joe had wrestled in Memphis in the late 1950’s, and was very popular here. In the early 1970’s Joe travelled up to Vince McMahon Sr.’s WWWF and became Chief Jay Strongbow. Yes, one of wrestling’s most famous Indian wrestlers was actual Italian, not Indian. You may notice Ken Lucas on the card. At this time he was a young kid who teamed up with the older veteran, Dennis Hall. About 14 years in the future, the situations were reversed when Ken was the seasoned veteran and helped a young Ricky Morton by teaming with him.
Another 3 years go by and on May 13, 1971 Jackie Fargo and Gary Martin teamed up to beat the team of Dr Death 1 & 2. I have no idea who the Dr’s were. Jackie Fargo had retired a few years earlier, but when Jerry Jarrett became the booker for the Memphis territory, he talked Jackie into coming back. Speaking of Jerry Jarrett, on this card he teamed up with Tojo Yamamoto against the Alaskans. Jerry and Tojo were hugely over as a tag team and in the early 1970’s, almost no team was more popular.
On May 13, 1974, Bobo Brazil , one of wrestling’s most popular stars, came to town to team with Bearcat Brown. They defeat the Infernos in the main event. The next match on the card had Lou Thesz, in the final years of his career, teaming with Jerry Lawler and Sam Bass in a losing effort against Tommy Gilbert, Eddie Marlin & Jimmy Kent. As a novelty act the McGuire Twins (imagine Plowboy Frazier times 2) defeated the Bounty Hunters.
Eleven years later, on May 13, 1985, they had a card that had Lawler, Dundee , the Fabs, Randy Savage and Bruiser Brody.
May 13, 1986 saw Jerry Lawler and Austin Idol defeat Bill Dundee and Buddy Landell in the finals of a tag team tournament. Also in that tourney were Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond, Tojo Yamamoto & Jeff Jarrett (a rookie), Memphis Vice (“Big” Lou)Winston & Jerry Bryant), Joe LeDuc & Dutch Mantell, and the Mod Squad.
The last card I have was on May 13, 1991. Bill Dundee defeated Eric Embry for the USWA Southern Title. The Texas Hangmen lost their USWA world tag team titles to Jeff Jarrett & Robert Fuller. Tom Pritchard defeated Steve Keirn. Eddie Gilbert also fought the Dirty White Boy to a no-contest.
I hope you guys have enjoyed this history lesson on Memphis wrestling. I want to congratulate Brian on the 2nd anniversary of the RRO blog. I also want to thank him for letting me do these weekly flashback articles.
----Mark James is the author of “Memphis Wrestling History – Cards, Matches, Results, Newspaper Clippings” Vol 1. He is currently finishing up Vol 2 and we will have full details on it here when it becomes available. James also is the webmaster to the BEST Memphis Wrestling site in the area – www.memphiswrestlinghistory.com Take a look at the site!!!
