"Flashback" Oct 1977 Part 2 by Mark James

This Week’s Flashsback Highlights: Oct 1977 Part 2
Last week we had the King returning from a short retirement and first babyface run under new promotion owner, Jerry Jarrett. This week we continue to look at Oct 1977 and see the first teaming of former enemies Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee.

Oct 24, 1977

The big news on this card was the first teaming of Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee. The new team defeated the formidable team of Jimmy and Johnny Valiant, who were former W.W.W.F and W.W.A World tag team champions.

On an interesting side note, Dundee and Lawler both lost earlier matches that night. Lawler teamed with Norvell Austin in a losing effort against one of the most under-rated tag teams to ever appear in Memphis, Phil Hickerson and Dennis Condrey. Bill Dundee was also unsuccessful in his teaming with Scott Casey. They lost their Southern tag ttle match with defending champions, the Samoans, (managed by Bruce Swayze.)

Over 9,200 fans came to see the teaming of Lawler and Dundee. The conversion of Jerry Lawler to the area’s top babyface was complete.


Also on the card were Mr. Wrestling, Robert Gibson and David Schultz and a young Terry Gordy.

Oct 30, 1977

Jerry Jarrett continued to give the fans what they wanted, his new team of Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee. This week’s main event featured a hospital elimination match with Lawler and Dundee going against Phil Hickerson and Dennis Condrey (with manager Al Costello.) It was a crazy match and was eventually ruled a “no contest” by the ref.

Norvell Austin got some revenge against manager Al Costello in a special 5 minute challenge match.


Another big match for the night was the Southern tag team title match. Big Red and Robert Gibson won by DQ over the champs, the Samoans. The belts stayed with the champs, for another week.

Also on the card: Mr Wrestling, David Schultz, Ratamus and Spider-Man.

----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 – memphiswrestlinghistory.com - Click on his site and order his books!!