I remember subscribing back when you could only get clips of Corny with a woman named Alice on the Arcadian Vanguard. My favorite content always will be Jim telling old stories of his own career with all tbe boys.
That quote Jim said " Back then if you missed that weekly wrestling show you couldn't ever see it again " is so true ! Thats why it was so "must see" if you were a fan . It would break my heart if I missed a show as a kid whether it was being grounded from watching TV or whatever the case . It wrecked my little world if I missed a show ! Especially if their was a hot angle going on like in CWA Memphis had a lot then . I would be crushed lol ! The internet and streaming stuff has killed all that . Its good and bad at the same time .
I was the tech nerd back in the 90s. But I was too young to stay up that late so I'd leave a VHS recording on the usa channel and would watch the next dat. Fast forward commercials. It sucked when dad would come home and watch Mexican shows on the living TV. That sucked seeing HBK about to fight this leap Cassidy character then it changed to 1970s Mexican programming
@@JuliusC1973 Oh I know !!! What a blessing it is not to try and hunt down VHS tapes like back in the day ! Kids dont know the struggle before the internet . You had to scratch , claw, beg and barter to get a Japanese/or rare tape in the 80s lol !
@@Brando-Lee3725 I used to read Pro Wrestling Illustrated, The Wrestler and Inside Wrestling and pay special attention to The Match Results of Professional Wrestling Shows from all over the world.
That's the year i started watch pro wrestling. Started watching Jim Crockett Promotions on WTBS with my pops. That was our big cable channel. I was 4 years old.
@@smarkslowplay3512 Jim was referring to World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) the Von Erichs promotion in Dallas, not World Championship Wrestling (WCW) which didn't even exist in 1985.
@@Bsfnelz20you got to do some research, but there are some folks that were around then that put out some stuff. Almost like a fan page I guess. Good luck
1980s: An upper mid carder gets a thousand dollars a week and goes "meh". 2020s: An upper mid carder gets a hundred fifty dollars for weekend travel expenses and thanks you profusely.
What a joke wwe hall of fame is! Proves its vince and vince alone who picks every entry every year. Vince never has watched footage of any wrestler ever. All on what Bruce and orhers saw and knew. Vince has zero, zero appreciation,knowledge or respect for real profesional wretlers. Corny and the Midnight are above a joke hall of fame!
@@Pensfan5919 Tommy Rich in those days had tremendous feuds with Bobby Heenan,Blackjack Lanza,Killer Karl Kox and Austin Idol. Bobby Heenan was tremendously over in Georgia and could bring the heat.
This is where Jim really shines in My opinion.when He takes us down memory lane and gives us the in and outs or what was going on. I particularly like it because I was watching wrestling around this time. Excellent job Jim and Brian
@@Batony I agree but I see why He doesn't. Most people who watch his shows are there for the insults. Lately there's been no Kenny Omega or Young bucks to attack so viewership is down. This video should have double the views but people don't like this sort of content from Jim
@@sionrouge1697 14,000 views for an almost a 2 hr vid in a few hours is not bad. I think his most views come from reviewing current big matches, a great angle or promo, any major current controversy (Punk etc), anything with Hogan/Russo, and unfortunately well-known wrestlers deaths. I think he would be okay to sprinkle these in every now and then, bc overall he does pretty well.
I'm surprised Jim didn't understand that people would have wanted Midnight Express toys. Round about 1985 my parents bought me a He-Man action figure - and also a Skeletor one. It's no fun playing with the babyfaces if there aren't any heels to antagonise them. Of course, he's right that Vince would have treated them as underneath talent.
I think The WWF was only begin to market Action Figures and otehr Merchandise and The Rock and Wrestling Connection had only begun and cross promotion on other medium was just beginning. You weren't seeing this on a grad scale until WWE fully embraced it.
Jim is a comic book fan too. Surely he'd understand that if you bought your kid a Spider-Man toy, he'd want all the heels, Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman etc. to go along with him. If anything the heels probably sell more toys than the face, because if you're a Hogan fan as a kid, you buy one Hogan... and then everyone who Hogan feuded with!
Lol facts on the traffic. I live in Riverdale, south of Atlanta. Only cities closer on this side to ATL are Forest Park and College Park sort of. Leaving right now, Augusta would take 3 hours.
AWA in 1985 was still very good. They would have had the Road Warriors, High Flyers, Fabs, Hennig and Hall, and the Midnight Rockers to work with IF they stayed through 1986. From there, I think they win the AWA World Tag Team Titles as well. They would have been a better choice than Garvin and Regal. Plus the AWA NEEDED great talent to join the roster. Even though they had a very good roster, it was apparent that the WWF and JCP were the top two companies in the country. BUT AWA was still very viable at this time. And got on ESPN. And getting Cornette in there after losing Heenan a year earlier would have been huge! I wouldn't have been surprised if Verne put another heel with Cornette and the Midnights. If Verne was thinking outside the box, he even could have done a heel vs. heel program with The Freebirds as well! The WWF accumulated an awesome tag roster in the mid 80's. BUT I'm not sure Vince would have done right by them. And give them a tag title run. BUT they would have gotten paid better and be in the most high profile company in the world. And it would have been AWESOME to see the Midnights vs. US Express, The Bulldogs, etc.
The only CWA show I got to see live was in Louisville in 85or 86 with Lawler vs Bota The Witch Doctor and a cage match with Boyd and Morgan vs Keira and Terry Taylor. It was great!
Saved in downloads to listen fishing the morning on the lake where I don't get good service...but I'll have 2 hours of Jim reminiscing and making me chuckle to fish to in the mornin!
Cornette is undoubtedly the best story teller and 1 helluva wrestling historian...I was such a.wrestling fan when I was a.kid.and cornette explains how the wrestling business worked back the...I always learn something new
I remember reading about the Crockett territory having three bookers for each of the three states in JJ Dillon's book or maybe it was Gary Hart's book. VA, NC, and SC. Jim mentioned Gary and Dory Jr. Was the other booker JJ Dillon? Where is Mike Sempervive when you need him?
Gary Hart had North Carolina Ernie Ladd had South Carolina Wahoo McDaniel had Virginia Dory Funk Jr was the overall booker for the whole promotion. Gary Hart booked the first Starcade cause it was in Greensboro even though it was Dusty Rhodes idea and Dusty took over in early 84
I helped The Midnight Xpress get that sweet music bc as Vincent in NwO I was just 2 sweet. Damm Jim start Smoky mountain again so I can get that run as champ
Imagine the Midnights in New Japan from 1985-90. They could have had absolute classics with Muto and Hase, Liger and anyone, Fujinami and anyone, or even some of the real heavyweights like Choshu, Tenryu and Saito. Corny would probably have got over too. I think the Japanese fans would have loved hearing him talk over those quiet matches.
The MX would’ve gotten over big in the WWF working teams like The Bulldogs, Hart Foundation, Killer Bees, etc. And Corny would’ve been huge on the mic there. I mean, look how well the Brainbusters did.
Whether it was luck, intuition, foresight or a combination of all ... the decisions Jim & The Midnights made all those years ago, especially in 1985 ... for the most part have been vindicated ... this was a honest & frank assessment/reflection by Jim ... I really enjoyed this ... 🙂👍
Per Gary Hart's book, there was 4 bookers in Jim Crockett Promotions before Dusty took over. Wahoo McDaniel, Gary Hart, Ernie Ladd, who each handled a state (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina/Savannah GA), while Dory Funk Jr. was in charge. Since Dory Funk Jr was working in both Jim Crockett Promotions and All Japan Pro Wrestling as a wrestler and booker, he needed help booking Jim Crockett Promotions. That's where Ladd, Hart, Wahoo came in.
In 85 and 86, Montreal was still doing quite OK but with the Road Warriors making some big appearances against top faces, Midnight Express would have possibly felt a bit lost in the shuffle right from the start. Maybe joining at the start of 86 (instead of having the Long Riders) would have been much better for Cornette's team.
AWA Remco Midnight Express figures would have made my day as a kid ! Hell it would even today ! And I keep saying it but we need some Midnight Express Elite figures dammit . And by the way this is great segment . Very very cool to listen to . All the possibilities and potential situations and matches have my mind racing .
37:00 - that's what I was waiting to here, Continental info and stories. I never got to see that territory growing up, other than the few moments on Pro Wrestling This Week with Pedecino and Solie, and results from cards in wrestling mags. Thank you Jim for your wealth of knowledge. 🙏 Plus I would love to be looking up classic matches of The Midnight vs The Nightmares or The Armstrongs right now on You Tube.
Montreal 85 is also Bravo-haku as King Tomga , rick martel and pat paterson were active on a semi regular basis, road warriors were visitors a few times a year,
They completely ignored Hawaii/50th state wrestling, which I found really weird considering that 1985 was the year Hawaii drew their biggest gate ever. Business was really booming there in 1985. And, other than Eddie Graham's genius, everything they said about Florida's advantages is applicable to Hawaii too. So I have no clue why it wasn't even mentioned. Other than that this was a really great discussion. It might be the longest one they ever had one subject that isn't a show review. Heck, they didn't even include any ad spots in it! I just hope they do an addendum about Hawaii lol.
Going to Dallas helped them in terms of widespread exposure later on. World Class had their "local" tv airing in BOSTON of all places. If they had that market, they likely aired in a lot of other "enemy" territories. So by the time Jim and the Midnight popped up on your cable channel (TBS), you were like, "oh, I know these guys". There was already some familiarity, making getting over and ascending to the top a bit smoother. Wouldn't be the case if they were toiling in Central States.
I do find it funny Jim doesn't think he would get heat if his team have action figures. Kids would have had the face smashing the heel due to the hate.
In 1985 and till it closed Montreal was a full time territory it wasnt just Montreal and Quebec City, would have been cool to see the Midnight come it as foreign heels to take on local guys like the Rougeaus, Dino Bravo Rick Martel.......
Jim and The Midnight's made the right choices (2bad the Crocketts&Dusty messed up from a financial standpoint) because the Midnight couldn't have worked the type matches they did in the WWF in '85, where the matches were shorter and have2 have more comedy than what what have evolved naturally. Imagine Jim& The Midnight on the WWF album with Jim singing/ rapping and then on that stupid music video. Jim &The Midnight on the Hulk cartoon...interesting to wonder who would've done Jim's voice..LOL
Midnight express are legends they should be in the HOF. Beautiful Bobby was my favorite of the team, fantastic wrestler, one of the best .he's a super nice guy too. RIP
@bluefukingreene Bobby was alot like curt hennig.he showed up you knew you had to step up your A-game. He was one of the finest in ring athletes. He would've even made an even greater trainer IMO.
Oh MAN would I have utterly lost my shit had the Midnight Express turned up on Tomko's All-Star Wrestling in Vancouver! However It would have been enraging to see them be forced to put Tomko's son "The Frog" and his partner "Atomic Kid" Buddy Wayne over as every other tag teamwas made to do at that time.
another great run through. it's funny you mentioned the ric flair departure and what turner may have done if he knew herd was chasing him off...i literally was thinking about it yesterday. i guess when you're one of the richest men in the world you aren't bothering with the feelings of lowly employees, but damn how the space time continuum might be different had herd not been able to make WCW such an embarassment
I worked at a union printing factory called International Paper company in 1978, and the pay was $4.25 an hour. I was 18 years old and it was my 2nd job. Within 5 years in 1983 I was a top paid Journeyman Cutter making $10.00 an hour. I cut can good labels on a computerized label cutting machine. By 1990 I was making $13.00 an hour doing the same job, then they closed the plant in 1995, and moved all our work to a non-union plant in Bowling Green Kentucky. I got 4 weeks vacation pay, and 1 weeks pay for every year I worked there for 17 years as severance pay. I started my own webmaster business and did that for 10 years, then I retired at 50 years old and got disability for a bad back.
See he does this so easily and it's mostly smooth and coherent. Take notes Tony K. Just his knowledge of how the Midnight did things is a masterclass in knowing your shit. I like the dream matches he low key fantasy books when he talks about who they would work with in each territory.
15:08 Charlotte IS basically a northern city now after decades of northern transplants since the 80s. locally we call it NYC South because of all the ex NYers now here almost basically outnumbering us locals. :|
While I loved SMW and was sad it closed , but if it still went on what stars would he have made the future if it still lasted today ? I would love to hear him answer that . What wrestlers would or could he have picked up to still keep that company going today ? Somebody throw him that question . Mine never get answered lol ! Charlie from Starkville I'm looking at you lol
Obviously Corny & the Midnights had to go to Crockett but them going to the AWA in 1985 would have been great too, they could of gone in strong over Gagne & Brunzell, work with a freshly turned Road Warriors, six man tags alongside Bockwinkel, Pro Wrestling USA stuff and also working with the likes of Martel, Hennig, Slaughter, Backlund, Crusher etc.
I agree! AWA in 1985 was still very good. They would have had the Road Warriors, High Flyers, Fabs, Hennig and Hall, and the Midnight Rockers to work with IF they stayed through 1986. From there, I think they win the AWA World Tag Team Titles as well. They would have been a better choice than Garvin and Regal. Plus the AWA NEEDED great talent to join the roster. Even though they had a very good roster, it was apparent that the WWF and JCP were the top two companies in the country. BUT AWA was still very viable at this time. And got on ESPN. And getting Cornette in there after losing Heenan a year earlier would have been huge! I wouldn't have been surprised if Verne put another heel with Cornette and the Midnights. If Verne was thinking outside the box, he even could have done a heel vs. heel program with The Freebirds as well! The WWF accumulated an awesome tag roster in the mid 80's. BUT I'm not sure Vince would have done right by them. And give them a tag title run. BUT they would have gotten paid better and be in the most high profile company in the world. And it would have been AWESOME to see the Midnights vs. US Express, The Bulldogs, etc.
Wow wonder what Jim will say when he hears Jerry Jarret passed. The king health in dangerous place and he just had one half of his favorite modern day tags pass.. Jim is going to be mentally drained when hears about Jarret I feel.
Awa 1985 had the Road Warriors,, Freebirds, Gagne/Brunzell, Hall/Hennig, Garvin/Regal, Pro Wrestling USA, Vegas. Great Schedule. But you had to live in Minnesota. :)
I see Jim's point about not wanting his or the Midnight's LJN dolls purchased since they were heels but think of it this way - kids needed the heel dolls for their babyface dolls. Its boring to have a Hogan doll by himself without an opponent, hence the need for Studd, Shiek, Piper, and other LJN dolls.
from a selfish point of view i would have liked them to have joined calgary stampede wrestling just before it was sold to vince so they could go to wwe and we could have seen them oversees as an international audience, seeing them in wwe would have been awesome for us even if it would have ben worse for them
Hugghhhh...Hawaiian Brian the Podcast Lion, King of the Arcadian Vanguard Network and his first world problems..."my landscaper makes too much noise while he's doing my yardwork"..."I spilled Starbucks on the heated leather seats in my Range Rover" ...✌😸 "my throat hurts from screaming THE MOTHERSHIP!" ...OK I made up the second one, but if that's the toughest part of your day then sign me up
If I ever see Mr. Last having a nice meal at a restaurant... I will wait until he's gotta nice full gulp of water and I'm gonna scream at the top of my lungs " THA MUTHA SHIP!!!!! "
best background stuff to listen to is Jim Cornette reminiscing about the territory days.
Sleep to it every night
2:34 Intro
21:50 AWA
31:25 Florida
43:18 Memphis
1:02:00 San Antonio, Kansas, Portland, ICW
1:16:50 Multiple Territories
1:23:03 WWF
1:35:18 Outro
I remember subscribing back when you could only get clips of Corny with a woman named Alice on the Arcadian Vanguard. My favorite content always will be Jim telling old stories of his own career with all tbe boys.
The sexy radio voice lady!!
Hugh? Mungus?
Whatever happened to alice?
@@michaelstagar4254 she's a b ..
@@michaelstagar4254 she quit many years ago, can't remember why.
I'm from McAllen TX. A 20 minute drive to Harlingen. Awesome story you all. Much love from us here in the Rio Grande Valley!!!
That quote Jim said " Back then if you missed that weekly wrestling show you couldn't ever see it again " is so true ! Thats why it was so "must see" if you were a fan . It would break my heart if I missed a show as a kid whether it was being grounded from watching TV or whatever the case . It wrecked my little world if I missed a show ! Especially if their was a hot angle going on like in CWA Memphis had a lot then . I would be crushed lol ! The internet and streaming stuff has killed all that . Its good and bad at the same time .
I was the tech nerd back in the 90s. But I was too young to stay up that late so I'd leave a VHS recording on the usa channel and would watch the next dat. Fast forward commercials. It sucked when dad would come home and watch Mexican shows on the living TV. That sucked seeing HBK about to fight this leap Cassidy character then it changed to 1970s Mexican programming
You would be surprised at how much Professional Wrestling from the last 75 Years is up here on You Tube. It's amazing how much is up here.
@@JuliusC1973 Oh I know !!! What a blessing it is not to try and hunt down VHS tapes like back in the day ! Kids dont know the struggle before the internet . You had to scratch , claw, beg and barter to get a Japanese/or rare tape in the 80s lol !
@@Brando-Lee3725 I used to read Pro Wrestling Illustrated, The Wrestler and Inside Wrestling and pay special attention to The Match Results of Professional Wrestling Shows from all over the world.
@@JuliusC1973 Me too brother ! I bought every mag I could find !!!!! The Arena Reports ! I know exactly !
"Brian, from 1985 WCW besides me who else is still alive?"
Ouch. Lot of feels in that short sentence for us old heads.
Ouch Indeed . 85 was the year I fell in love with wrestling .
That's the year i started watch pro wrestling. Started watching Jim Crockett Promotions on WTBS with my pops. That was our big cable channel. I was 4 years old.
1985 WCCW*
Entire Horsemen crew including later additions Barry, Lex n Sid are still alive right?
@@smarkslowplay3512 Jim was referring to World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) the Von Erichs promotion in Dallas, not World Championship Wrestling (WCW) which didn't even exist in 1985.
I would love for Jim and Brian to cover more 50's wrestling. I love learning about that era!
Is there anything on the internet 🤔
@@Bsfnelz20you got to do some research, but there are some folks that were around then that put out some stuff. Almost like a fan page I guess. Good luck
From 1985 World Class, who besides me is still alive?
Wow, that’s humbling.
Kevin Von Erich maybe Tommy Rogers there ain't many
Brian Adias was a great mid card guy
Bobby fulton
Bill Mercer & Mark Lowrence as well
One Man Gang
I loved this...and I am looking forward to more. This was amazing start to finish.
Being an East Tennessean I would have definitely been game to have done coke with the Fuller's and Jimmy Golden in Continental.
1980s: An upper mid carder gets a thousand dollars a week and goes "meh".
2020s: An upper mid carder gets a hundred fifty dollars for weekend travel expenses and thanks you profusely.
ain't that the sad truth.
That story about Nova Scotia with the cops siding with the fans against the heels is the best.
This is Jim Cornette gold! I love his wrestling history stories.
HOF Midnight Express
👍..does Cornette have to leave the house?..
It should happen
@@darthsebio1726 assuming his Spectrum internet is functioning properly, he can always Skype his induction speech onto the WWE titontron
What a joke wwe hall of fame is! Proves its vince and vince alone who picks every entry every year. Vince never has watched footage of any wrestler ever. All on what Bruce and orhers saw and knew. Vince has zero, zero appreciation,knowledge or respect for real profesional wretlers. Corny and the Midnight are above a joke hall of fame!
Bobby Heenan was in Georgia in 1979 and his stable was Blackjack Lanza,Killer Karl Kox,Professor Tanaka,Austin Idol and the Masked Superstar.
The original Heenan Family, a template Bobby would carry to the AWA and again, of course, to the WWF.
@@Pensfan5919 Tommy Rich in those days had tremendous feuds with Bobby Heenan,Blackjack Lanza,Killer Karl Kox and Austin Idol. Bobby Heenan was tremendously over in Georgia and could bring the heat.
About that same time Tommy Rich teamed with BOTH "Bullet" Bob Arnstrong and AWA Legend Reggie "The Crusher" Lisowskl!😂😉🎤🤼♂️B.W.
This is where Jim really shines in My opinion.when He takes us down memory lane and gives us the in and outs or what was going on. I particularly like it because I was watching wrestling around this time. Excellent job Jim and Brian
Yes. He needs to include at least one of these each show.
@@Batony I agree but I see why He doesn't. Most people who watch his shows are there for the insults. Lately there's been no Kenny Omega or Young bucks to attack so viewership is down. This video should have double the views but people don't like this sort of content from Jim
@@sionrouge1697 14,000 views for an almost a 2 hr vid in a few hours is not bad. I think his most views come from reviewing current big matches, a great angle or promo, any major current controversy (Punk etc), anything with Hogan/Russo, and unfortunately well-known wrestlers deaths.
I think he would be okay to sprinkle these in every now and then, bc overall he does pretty well.
Midnight Express and Rock and Roll Express, 2 of the best tag teams of all time
I'm surprised Jim didn't understand that people would have wanted Midnight Express toys. Round about 1985 my parents bought me a He-Man action figure - and also a Skeletor one. It's no fun playing with the babyfaces if there aren't any heels to antagonise them.
Of course, he's right that Vince would have treated them as underneath talent.
Let's be honest, without Jim Cornette the Midnight Express are underneath talent.
I think The WWF was only begin to market Action Figures and otehr Merchandise and The Rock and Wrestling Connection had only begun and cross promotion on other medium was just beginning. You weren't seeing this on a grad scale until WWE fully embraced it.
Jim is a comic book fan too. Surely he'd understand that if you bought your kid a Spider-Man toy, he'd want all the heels, Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman etc. to go along with him. If anything the heels probably sell more toys than the face, because if you're a Hogan fan as a kid, you buy one Hogan... and then everyone who Hogan feuded with!
Jim and Brian, this is awesome stuff. Could listen to this for days! Thank you!
Lol facts on the traffic.
I live in Riverdale, south of Atlanta. Only cities closer on this side to ATL are Forest Park and College Park sort of.
Leaving right now, Augusta would take 3 hours.
I love the Wendy's triple combo inflation index
Makes sense doesn't it?
AWA in 1985 was still very good. They would have had the Road Warriors, High Flyers, Fabs, Hennig and Hall, and the Midnight Rockers to work with IF they stayed through 1986. From there, I think they win the AWA World Tag Team Titles as well. They would have been a better choice than Garvin and Regal. Plus the AWA NEEDED great talent to join the roster. Even though they had a very good roster, it was apparent that the WWF and JCP were the top two companies in the country.
BUT AWA was still very viable at this time. And got on ESPN. And getting Cornette in there after losing Heenan a year earlier would have been huge! I wouldn't have been surprised if Verne put another heel with Cornette and the Midnights. If Verne was thinking outside the box, he even could have done a heel vs. heel program with The Freebirds as well!
The WWF accumulated an awesome tag roster in the mid 80's. BUT I'm not sure Vince would have done right by them. And give them a tag title run. BUT they would have gotten paid better and be in the most high profile company in the world. And it would have been AWESOME to see the Midnights vs. US Express, The Bulldogs, etc.
The only CWA show I got to see live was in Louisville in 85or 86 with Lawler vs Bota The Witch Doctor and a cage match with Boyd and Morgan vs Keira and Terry Taylor. It was great!
Keirn
Nearly 2 hours of Jim Cornette? About to be a good night 👍🏽
That's just a clip
I love these types of topics Jim and Brian delve into over the modern wrestling talk so much more
More like this please
prefect post superbowl show to listen to
24:40 Was that a pun? "Then Brunzell jumped"
Those Remco action figures were buffed to the max. Curt Hennig never looked buffer!
The history of the territories by Jim cornette ft Brian Last. Enjoy folks
Jim's about to talk me to sleep :) I love theses old school segments
Yup! Same here.
Saved in downloads to listen fishing the morning on the lake where I don't get good service...but I'll have 2 hours of Jim reminiscing and making me chuckle to fish to in the mornin!
Cornette is undoubtedly the best story teller and 1 helluva wrestling historian...I was such a.wrestling fan when I was a.kid.and cornette explains how the wrestling business worked back the...I always learn something new
In the WWF, the Midnight Express vs US Express could have been a lot of fun, especially with Jim & Captain Lou both at ringside.
@BM 359 I don't really think about dream matches but that really would've been a great one. Especially with both Jimmys' managing
I remember reading about the Crockett territory having three bookers for each of the three states in JJ Dillon's book or maybe it was Gary Hart's book. VA, NC, and SC. Jim mentioned Gary and Dory Jr. Was the other booker JJ Dillon? Where is Mike Sempervive when you need him?
Or maybe it was Ole. I don't know.
Wahoo(Va), Hart(NC), Ladd(SC/Savannah). Dory was in charge, but he was also booking for Japan, so he needed help.
Gary Hart had North Carolina
Ernie Ladd had South Carolina
Wahoo McDaniel had Virginia
Dory Funk Jr was the overall booker for the whole promotion.
Gary Hart booked the first Starcade cause it was in Greensboro even though it was Dusty Rhodes idea and Dusty took over in early 84
I helped The Midnight Xpress get that sweet music bc as Vincent in NwO I was just 2 sweet. Damm Jim start Smoky mountain again so I can get that run as champ
This was Virgil's real account before he passed
These are pretty good shows. I find myself watching this a lot. Great views of the behind the scenes of wrestling.
I wonder what it's like falling off in a scaffold match. There's no way to train for that is there?
Jim dismisses the mid 80s WWF a lot..but man that was a great pool of great Tag Teams.
Its a shame Vince was never hot on tag teams, some of the best teams of all time were in the WWF/WWE
He admits there's some gems in the 90's, almost always involving Bret Hart lol.
strike force, demolition, hart foundation, killer bees, bulldogs, midnight would have fit in awesome
It was way too cartoonish for them.
Love stories about the midnight
Ive always thought if jim did a tour of japan with the midnight they would have been sooooo popular
Could have had a six star match in the Tokyo Dome…
Except Cornettes a a xenophobe/racist and hates Japan.
@@duckmercy11 easy vinager and water...
Imagine the Midnights in New Japan from 1985-90. They could have had absolute classics with Muto and Hase, Liger and anyone, Fujinami and anyone, or even some of the real heavyweights like Choshu, Tenryu and Saito. Corny would probably have got over too. I think the Japanese fans would have loved hearing him talk over those quiet matches.
The MX would’ve gotten over big in the WWF working teams like The Bulldogs, Hart Foundation, Killer Bees, etc. And Corny would’ve been huge on the mic there.
I mean, look how well the Brainbusters did.
Whether it was luck, intuition, foresight or a combination of all ... the decisions Jim & The Midnights made all those years ago, especially in 1985 ... for the most part have been vindicated ... this was a honest & frank assessment/reflection by Jim ... I really enjoyed this ... 🙂👍
I know I sent an email recently to finish this conversation! Thanks!!!
Per Gary Hart's book, there was 4 bookers in Jim Crockett Promotions before Dusty took over. Wahoo McDaniel, Gary Hart, Ernie Ladd, who each handled a state (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina/Savannah GA), while Dory Funk Jr. was in charge. Since Dory Funk Jr was working in both Jim Crockett Promotions and All Japan Pro Wrestling as a wrestler and booker, he needed help booking Jim Crockett Promotions. That's where Ladd, Hart, Wahoo came in.
Also, Very important to note that Gary Hart was actually the one who booked the first Starrcade.
How did you get your hands on Gary harts book,?
@@BuckeyeJAG i didn't get hold of the physical copy. I listened to the audio book. It's on youtube actually. The entire audio book.
@@BuckeyeJAG Most likely the same way I got to read it, through the PDF lol.
@@fayezfawzi3255 i think i saw a PDF file online for it...can't recall for sure. But i found it on youtube in audiobook format.
In 85 and 86, Montreal was still doing quite OK but with the Road Warriors making some big appearances against top faces, Midnight Express would have possibly felt a bit lost in the shuffle right from the start. Maybe joining at the start of 86 (instead of having the Long Riders) would have been much better for Cornette's team.
The rockers vs the midnights in the awa in 86 would have been awesome
It did happen, but sadly it was years later with Heyman's midnight lol
@@fayezfawzi3255 That match actually wasn't bad
@@chadk890 true, but a match with Cornette's Midnight would have been way way better.
Would have ranked right up there with The Midnight Express vs. The Fantastics Matches.
AWA Remco Midnight Express figures would have made my day as a kid ! Hell it would even today ! And I keep saying it but we need some Midnight Express Elite figures dammit . And by the way this is great segment . Very very cool to listen to . All the possibilities and potential situations and matches have my mind racing .
“It rained constantly” definitely describes Oregon.
37:00 - that's what I was waiting to here, Continental info and stories. I never got to see that territory growing up, other than the few moments on Pro Wrestling This Week with Pedecino and Solie, and results from cards in wrestling mags. Thank you Jim for your wealth of knowledge. 🙏 Plus I would love to be looking up classic matches of The Midnight vs The Nightmares or The Armstrongs right now on You Tube.
Greatest tag team of the ages!
Travis missed the fourth piece of cheese on the bottom of the triple cheeseburger
Montreal 85 is also Bravo-haku as King Tomga , rick martel and pat paterson were active on a semi regular basis, road warriors were visitors a few times a year,
They completely ignored Hawaii/50th state wrestling, which I found really weird considering that 1985 was the year Hawaii drew their biggest gate ever. Business was really booming there in 1985. And, other than Eddie Graham's genius, everything they said about Florida's advantages is applicable to Hawaii too. So I have no clue why it wasn't even mentioned.
Other than that this was a really great discussion. It might be the longest one they ever had one subject that isn't a show review. Heck, they didn't even include any ad spots in it! I just hope they do an addendum about Hawaii lol.
Finally! I've been waiting for this ever since I was a small child in a log cabin. The first part was so good.
Midnight Express vs British Bulldogs, Killer Bees, The Rockers, Rogeau Brothers, Hart Foundation, US Express would have been cool.
Lots of great matches we never saw.
@@fjccommish did you know that the British Bulldogs wrestled the Rock & Roll Express?
@@Dave-rf1zj When did he?
@@fjccommish February 1989 at a joint show put on by AWA, All Japan and the WWA called International Bash. Match is on youtube i believe.
@@Dave-rf1zj ruclips.net/video/ScrEGO51RJg/видео.html
San Antonio became USA All Star Wrestling with Steve Stack. They brought in a young Jeff Jarrett
Jim, Bobby, Stan, Dennis for Hof 2023! (also Randy kinda)
I’ve been waiting for this for months.
2:06 LMFAOOO that caught me off guard
Going to Dallas helped them in terms of widespread exposure later on. World Class had their "local" tv airing in BOSTON of all places. If they had that market, they likely aired in a lot of other "enemy" territories. So by the time Jim and the Midnight popped up on your cable channel (TBS), you were like, "oh, I know these guys". There was already some familiarity, making getting over and ascending to the top a bit smoother. Wouldn't be the case if they were toiling in Central States.
I do find it funny Jim doesn't think he would get heat if his team have action figures. Kids would have had the face smashing the heel due to the hate.
Exactly! Kids still need heels when they're playing.
In 1985 and till it closed Montreal was a full time territory it wasnt just Montreal and Quebec City, would have been cool to see the Midnight come it as foreign heels to take on local guys like the Rougeaus, Dino Bravo Rick Martel.......
Jim and The Midnight's made the right choices (2bad the Crocketts&Dusty messed up from a financial standpoint) because the Midnight couldn't have worked the type matches they did in the WWF in '85, where the matches were shorter and have2 have more comedy than what what have evolved naturally.
Imagine Jim& The Midnight on the WWF album with Jim singing/ rapping and then on that stupid music video.
Jim &The Midnight on the Hulk cartoon...interesting to wonder who would've done Jim's voice..LOL
Midnight express are legends they should be in the HOF. Beautiful Bobby was my favorite of the team, fantastic wrestler, one of the best .he's a super nice guy too. RIP
Bobby was as good as anyone was.
A match between Bobby and dynamite kid or Bret hart or bockwinkle,would've been so great.
@bluefukingreene Bobby was alot like curt hennig.he showed up you knew you had to step up your A-game. He was one of the finest in ring athletes. He would've even made an even greater trainer IMO.
I love " THE. MOTHER SHIP" announcement.
Love these
Oh MAN would I have utterly lost my shit had the Midnight Express turned up on Tomko's All-Star Wrestling in Vancouver! However It would have been enraging to see them be forced to put Tomko's son "The Frog" and his partner "Atomic Kid" Buddy Wayne over as every other tag teamwas made to do at that time.
another great run through. it's funny you mentioned the ric flair departure and what turner may have done if he knew herd was chasing him off...i literally was thinking about it yesterday. i guess when you're one of the richest men in the world you aren't bothering with the feelings of lowly employees, but damn how the space time continuum might be different had herd not been able to make WCW such an embarassment
THE MOTHERSHIP!!!
I miss the Bryan last “theeeee mothership!” Call
brian’s soundboard is gold
I worked at a union printing factory called International Paper company in 1978, and the pay was $4.25 an hour. I was 18 years old and it was my 2nd job. Within 5 years in 1983 I was a top paid Journeyman Cutter making $10.00 an hour. I cut can good labels on a computerized label cutting machine. By 1990 I was making $13.00 an hour doing the same job, then they closed the plant in 1995, and moved all our work to a non-union plant in Bowling Green Kentucky.
I got 4 weeks vacation pay, and 1 weeks pay for every year I worked there for 17 years as severance pay. I started my own webmaster business and did that for 10 years, then I retired at 50 years old and got disability for a bad back.
Why would you think anyone would be interested in your work history?
2 mins in is all you need 👍 #TheMothership
"From 1985 World Class Wrestling, besides me, who's still alive?" Is a depressing one. So much talent gone and 1985 isn't *that* long ago yet.
Lol Harlingen TX I drive through it twice a week.
See he does this so easily and it's mostly smooth and coherent. Take notes Tony K. Just his knowledge of how the Midnight did things is a masterclass in knowing your shit. I like the dream matches he low key fantasy books when he talks about who they would work with in each territory.
We need a "THE MOTHERSHIP!!!!!" omnibus. 😂
15:08 Charlotte IS basically a northern city now after decades of northern transplants since the 80s. locally we call it NYC South because of all the ex NYers now here almost basically outnumbering us locals. :|
While I loved SMW and was sad it closed , but if it still went on what stars would he have made the future if it still lasted today ? I would love to hear him answer that . What wrestlers would or could he have picked up to still keep that company going today ? Somebody throw him that question . Mine never get answered lol ! Charlie from Starkville I'm looking at you lol
This.. is why I listen to JCE & CDT
Obviously Corny & the Midnights had to go to Crockett but them going to the AWA in 1985 would have been great too, they could of gone in strong over Gagne & Brunzell, work with a freshly turned Road Warriors, six man tags alongside Bockwinkel, Pro Wrestling USA stuff and also working with the likes of Martel, Hennig, Slaughter, Backlund, Crusher etc.
I agree! AWA in 1985 was still very good. They would have had the Road Warriors, High Flyers, Fabs, Hennig and Hall, and the Midnight Rockers to work with IF they stayed through 1986. From there, I think they win the AWA World Tag Team Titles as well. They would have been a better choice than Garvin and Regal. Plus the AWA NEEDED great talent to join the roster. Even though they had a very good roster, it was apparent that the WWF and JCP were the top two companies in the country.
BUT AWA was still very viable at this time. And got on ESPN. And getting Cornette in there after losing Heenan a year earlier would have been huge! I wouldn't have been surprised if Verne put another heel with Cornette and the Midnights. If Verne was thinking outside the box, he even could have done a heel vs. heel program with The Freebirds as well!
The WWF accumulated an awesome tag roster in the mid 80's. BUT I'm not sure Vince would have done right by them. And give them a tag title run. BUT they would have gotten paid better and be in the most high profile company in the world. And it would have been AWESOME to see the Midnights vs. US Express, The Bulldogs, etc.
Wow wonder what Jim will say when he hears Jerry Jarret passed. The king health in dangerous place and he just had one half of his favorite modern day tags pass.. Jim is going to be mentally drained when hears about Jarret I feel.
I take pleasure in the fact you hurt yourself doing that
Jim speaks for us all
Haha yes there is no way you make it from Atlanta to Augusta in 3 hours under those conditions today
This was excellent
Imagine though the Midnight injuring Hulk Hogan in 1986 and running a program off of that. There's your money
Awa 1985 had the Road Warriors,, Freebirds, Gagne/Brunzell, Hall/Hennig, Garvin/Regal, Pro Wrestling USA, Vegas. Great Schedule. But you had to live in Minnesota. :)
I see Jim's point about not wanting his or the Midnight's LJN dolls purchased since they were heels but think of it this way - kids needed the heel dolls for their babyface dolls. Its boring to have a Hogan doll by himself without an opponent, hence the need for Studd, Shiek, Piper, and other LJN dolls.
from a selfish point of view i would have liked them to have joined calgary stampede wrestling just before it was sold to vince so they could go to wwe and we could have seen them oversees as an international audience, seeing them in wwe would have been awesome for us even if it would have ben worse for them
Hey Last, when are you gonna bring back the top 10?
Heenan did have a short Georgia run managing Karl Kox and others in 79, I think in the fall. From the TV, it seemed like he was fulltime.
has jim or brain seen the match of the von erich's vs the briscose's at flair's last match event
Hugghhhh...Hawaiian Brian the Podcast Lion, King of the Arcadian Vanguard Network and his first world problems..."my landscaper makes too much noise while he's doing my yardwork"..."I spilled Starbucks on the heated leather seats in my Range Rover" ...✌😸 "my throat hurts from screaming THE MOTHERSHIP!" ...OK I made up the second one, but if that's the toughest part of your day then sign me up
Florida 1985 had The Youngbloods, Pretty Young Things, Freebirds, Percy Pringle and his stable.
I think The Midnight Express would've become the AWA World Tag Team Champions if they had wrestle in the AWA.
I would love if Jim Cornette and The Midnight Express went to Japan. Imagine Jim Cornette hitting Antonio Inoki or Giant Baba with a tennis racket.
If I ever see Mr. Last having a nice meal at a restaurant... I will wait until he's gotta nice full gulp of water and I'm gonna scream at the top of my lungs " THA MUTHA SHIP!!!!! "
This is priceless!!!
BEAUTIFUL BOBBY 4 LIFE
"Oh, you've wrestled a blow up doll in front of 30 people in a gym? Here's Bockwinckle money."
- Tony Khan 😭