METHODOLOGY FOR
WORKING ON TITLE HISTORIES
There are several
excellent published title histories available, both in print and on the
web. Two of our favorites are
Wrestling
Title Histories by Gary Will and Royal Duncan, and
Great Hisa's Pro
Wrestling Title Histories on the web. None that we've found, however,
list a complete and accurate history of the Mid-Atlantic titles. Wrestling title histories are extremely hard to put together to
begin with, since official records were rarely kept years ago. We
have great respect for anyone undertaking this endeavor.
We have two advantages
when it comes to the Mid-Atlantic area related to documentation,
important when trying to back-up claims on title changes:
1. David
Chappell's extensive collection of audio tapes (as well as a collection of
audio tapes that once belonged to Leslie Johnson), some 400 strong going back
to 1974. This allows us to document changes in titles as they were
communicated on television, the primary promotion tool used territory wide. This will be the first time much of this information has been
available.
2. We also have been blessed
to have the assistance of Mid-Atlantic historian Mark Eastridge who has done
exhaustive research on all cards held in most every Mid-Atlantic Wrestling
city. His clipping collection of newspaper ads and results is simply
amazing, and has proven to be best help we've had in tracking down illusive title
changes. The newspaper clippings, along with local TV promos inserted
into the syndicated shows, were the primary promotional tool used locally.
One of the most significant
errors we've found in other title histories, both in print and on the web,
is the first title win by Ric Flair over Wahoo
McDaniel for the Mid-Atlantic championship. All of the title histories
we've read have Flair either winning the Mid-Atlantic title from an unknown
champion in mid-1975 (following Johnny Valentine) or for the first time
from Wahoo McDaniel in 1976 following Flair's return from the Wilmington
plane crash. Neither is correct. Flair actually first won the title on
September 20, 1975 in Hampton, VA from McDaniel in a hair vs. title match.
It is the first known match where Flair put up his hair as a stipulation
in a match. This was two weeks before the plane crash. Flair held the
title throughout his time off recuperating from injuries suffered in that
crash, the 30-day no-defense rule was basically ignored. This title change
was isolated using both methods listed above, with audio promos leading up
to the hair-vs.-title match in Hampton, and the newspaper clippings from the
shop.
We are working through
the slow process of trying to isolate and confirm every title change in
Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, and are also working on documenting the Eastern
Heavyweight title and Atlantic Coast Tag Titles, each the forbearer of the
Mid-Atlantic and Mid-Atlantic tag titles respectively. Most published
historical sources (including Hisa's Title Histories, Wrestling-titles.com, Will & Duncan,
etc.), are missing or list incorrectly many of these changes. We
appreciate the help of others in tracking down and isolating specific
title changes that history failed to clearly record.
The lack of any
official published title histories by Jim Crockett Promotions makes this
task very difficult. And even if they were available, they would also
likely be filled with errors. For example, Mid-Atlantic Wrestling
Magazine, which was published by Crockett Promotions, usually featured a
current champions list in each issue until late 1977. There are several
inaccuracies within these issues. Example: Volume 2 Issue 1 incorrectly
lists Ric Flair's first Mid-Atlantic Title win as August of 1975, when it
was actually on September 20, 1975 in Hampton, VA. Another example: the
same issue incorrectly lists Angelo Mosca's TV title tournament win as
April 11, 1976 when it was actually April 14 in the studios of WRAL TV.
What makes us so sure
on our title histories? Well, you're never 100% sure with wrestling title
histories. But we plan to present, where possible, some form of
documenting evidence for every Mid-Atlantic area title change where
possible. When we are aren't sure of a date, we'll narrow it down to a
range, and when we just don't know, we'll say so.
If you believe any of
our title information to be incorrect, please contact us. We want to be
challenged, because our ultimate goal is to be 100%
accurate. That's something thought to be impossible by anyone who
seriously tracks down pro-wrestling title changes. But we are going to
keep working towards that end.
If you have any
additional information about the Mid-Atlantic titles that could help us in
this quest, please
contact us at The Mid-Atlantic Gateway.
-Dick Bourne & David Chappell
Special thanks for the contributions of Mark Eastridge, Allan Barrie, Sam
Finley, and Carroll Hall, who have assisted David and I greatly in our
title histories.
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