Twenty-nine years ago, Jerry Lawler was a month into a big heel run. Bill Dundee was the area’s top babyface. Also new to the area and the business was a youngster, Terry Boulder, the Hulk. In a few short years he would be the WWF World champion and known as Hulk Hogan.
Aug 20, 1979
The main event had Jerry Lawler, in full heel mode, defeating Bill Dundee. Lawler’s heel turn, which I talked about a few weeks ago, was brought about because of the wrestling fans association voting Dundee the “Wrestler of the Year” and giving him the AWA World title shot against Nick Bockwinkle, (which took place on July 30, 1979).Jimmy Valiant had returned to the area and along with Steve Regal lost to the Southern Tag Team Champions, Wayne Farris and Larry Latham, (along with their manager, Sgt. Danny Davis.) For most of the summer, Farris and Latham had feuded with Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee. When Lawler-Dundee renewed their feud against each other, the tag champs were put against various teams and dominated the tag team scene for many months.
Future Hall-of-Fame tag team, the Fabulous Freebirds, (Terry Gordy and Michael Hayes), were stuck in the middle of the card (as usual in Memphis.) On this card, they got the win over Tommy and Eddie Gilbert.
In recent weeks, the Hulk (Hogan) had been trying to win the Southern Heavyweight Title from Ron Bass. When the Hulk was about to win, the champ’s manager, Sonny King, would interfere and save his belt. On this card the Hulk got his revenge with a win over Sonny King in a one-on-one match-up.
Speaking of the Southern champ; Ron Bass lost by DQ to a young Ricky Morton.
An enjoyable card… Watching Lawler, who had been a babyface for 2 years, switch to a vicious rule breaker, may have been shocking for some but it was a needed change. Farris and Latham continued their dominance of the local tag team scene. Hulk continued to thrill the fans,
Aug 27, 1979
Lawler finally got his AWA World title match against Nick Bockwinkle. The King took the champ to a 60 minute draw in a great match.
Bill Dundee got some gold of his own, as he defeated the current Southern Heavyweight champion, Ron Bass.
The Southern tag team champions, Wayne Farris and Larry Latham lost by DQ to the new team of Tommy Gilbert and the Hulk (Hogan). Hulk’s popularity was really big during this time in Memphis. His “larger-than-like” muscles were something the Memphis fans weren’t used to and they liked it.
Earlier in the night, the Fabulous Freebirds, (Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy) were broke the rules to defeat the new team of Steve Regal and Rick Morton. The father and son team of Buddy and Ken Wayne went to a draw with Dallas Montgomery and Eddie Gilbert.
The fans got a payoff with Dundee getting the Southern belt from Bass… One thing I hadn’t remembered about the Lawler-Bockwinkle match was this was only Lawler’s second AWA World title match in Memphis, (the first match happened a year earlier on Aug 21, 1978)… The promotion continued to tease the fans with putting Hulk in another title match. He had been in singles title matches all summer, but never held a title in Memphis… Farris and Latham reign as tag champs was safe, as they snuck away with the belts yet again… The Freebirds continued to go nowhere fast in the territory.
----Mark James is the author of “Memphis Wrestling History – Cards, Matches, Results, Newspaper Clippings” Vol 1 and "Vol 2: The Programs 1972 - 1976" James also is the webmaster to the BEST Memphis Wrestling site in the area – www.memphiswrestlinghistory.com - Click on his site and order his books!!
Aug 27, 1979
Lawler finally got his AWA World title match against Nick Bockwinkle. The King took the champ to a 60 minute draw in a great match.
Bill Dundee got some gold of his own, as he defeated the current Southern Heavyweight champion, Ron Bass.
The Southern tag team champions, Wayne Farris and Larry Latham lost by DQ to the new team of Tommy Gilbert and the Hulk (Hogan). Hulk’s popularity was really big during this time in Memphis. His “larger-than-like” muscles were something the Memphis fans weren’t used to and they liked it.
Earlier in the night, the Fabulous Freebirds, (Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy) were broke the rules to defeat the new team of Steve Regal and Rick Morton. The father and son team of Buddy and Ken Wayne went to a draw with Dallas Montgomery and Eddie Gilbert.
The fans got a payoff with Dundee getting the Southern belt from Bass… One thing I hadn’t remembered about the Lawler-Bockwinkle match was this was only Lawler’s second AWA World title match in Memphis, (the first match happened a year earlier on Aug 21, 1978)… The promotion continued to tease the fans with putting Hulk in another title match. He had been in singles title matches all summer, but never held a title in Memphis… Farris and Latham reign as tag champs was safe, as they snuck away with the belts yet again… The Freebirds continued to go nowhere fast in the territory.----Mark James is the author of “Memphis Wrestling History – Cards, Matches, Results, Newspaper Clippings” Vol 1 and "Vol 2: The Programs 1972 - 1976" James also is the webmaster to the BEST Memphis Wrestling site in the area – www.memphiswrestlinghistory.com - Click on his site and order his books!!
