It was scripted. Rich was RED-HOT at the time and Race didn't mind putting him over. The only deficiency I could find in older wrestling like this was that the champions kept their belts FOREVER. I don't mind long reigns, but not for 50 years at a time. This was a great moment. It was all over the magazines, even if it only lasted a week.
Somehow I don't think Rich was " supposed " to win the title that night. At least as far as the NWA big shots were concerned. I think the referee fucked up and they just had to play along. That's why Rich lost the title five days later.
Thanks for posting this match. I have heard Race was not happy dropping the title but who knows for sure? It was unusual to see the belt change hands in a smaller venue and Rich's reign was very short..
Hahahah... Andre stepping in as the insurance policy at the end tends to make me think that perhaps there was some fear on the promoter's part that Race wouldn't take kindly to the title switch... And we all know that NOBODY on God's Green Earth was gonna challenge Andre to a pissing contest!
i will never forget the interview on GCW,when Tommy came out to watch ,the Nature Boys' match,and flair slid the podium out of the way and dressed him down verbally and tld him,the champion wears a 5,000.00 robe,10,000.00 dollars worth of gold and A million dollars of wrestling talent.man those interviews back in Georgia Campionship Wrestling are some of the absolute greatest ever.I encourage some the younger fans to go back and watch them and appreciate the way these guys paved the way
u guys are so right.Since Jericho won that undisputed title over AUSTIN N ROCK 4 yrs after he was a cruiserweight in WCW come on,a winover 2 household names!Jericho will never be a household name.i like Chris hes solid wrestler,solid!Mic skills are great but his body is shit.Since then wwe been downill,now had it been angle or lesnar they could hold interest. last time i could tolerate wwe was when orton won from hhh when hhh was doin the flair gimmick.Orton has unlimited potential
tommy rich was over like a god a this point look at the numbers!early 80s he ws it for bring young girls etc.Way more than Ronnie Garvin!!now wwf you occasional had the koloffs and backlunds and diesels who didnt sell any tickets..but overall mcmahon jr was not goin put u over unless u were selling tickets!thats why he did the opposite wit the face champs.Eddie N Chris would have never been champs but that 1yr he got over his complex but now CMPUNK,MIZ,DOLPH CHAMPIONS? god makes me embarrassed
I agree with what you said, except for putting CM Punk with ziggler and the miz. Punk has a lot of talent, and doesn't deserve to be lumped with those two. Punk is a great World Champion.
yea the select few that won the heavyweight title. In the WWE I think just about everyone has held the belt. I heard the other night that Ray Mysterio is a 2 time world heavyweight champion. Nothing against Ray, but are you kidding me?
Michael Hayes has said that this was a screwjob; given the fast nature of the count, it is believable...either way, it was good for Tommy and good for business that he won.
@DrJReefer haha. i never heard that one before but nothing would surprise me. i wonder if any of the really great champs had to do anything...er...uncouth to be champ. i'd hate to think jack brisco went down on bob geigel.
@TheBigBadWoIf Well...I can see how men of a certain sexual persuasion would be attracted to working in a business that is the preserve of oiled up muscular men in tight speedos.....
At this point I felt Tommy Rich was going to have a career to rival any in the history of the sport. But by 1985 the bottom began to fall out... Still a wrestling legend though...
Now it is true that Tommy didn't quite live up to the potential that others thought he had. He was known for his all night partying and then working a four star match the next night but eventually it did catch up to him. He got a big beer gut and lost a lot of his babyface appeal. Tommy Rich was arguably the first superface of the cable TV era. Had he stayed in shape though I'm not sure if he would've retained nationwide appeal. He was always that good 'ol Suthun boy.
This is a great piece of the NWA championship - very rare footage. That last pinning move by Rich - the flying vertical body block - looks like it could take someone's head off. I had forgotten how well Tommy could move around in the ring.
I think at this time the NWA was looking for someone new to carry the company with the NWA title. It was going to be either Tommy Rich or Ric Flair.
For more details on the rise and fall of Tommy Rich, including the reasons behind his NWA World title win, check out my web site, Kentucky Fried Rasslin, and do a search on Tommy Rich, or click his name under popular KFR subjects. As his former manager in Memphis, I got to know Rich pretty well. Heck of a guy, but unfortunately he was young to handle stardom.
@tsickboy71 I read the article. Its great and should be a mandatory read for the younger guys today. Its sad that he was bigger than every wrestler in the country at one point and one of the first big stars of cable TV and within 2-3 years, he lost it all.
Even if Tommy had to do some "favors" for Jim Barnett (which I don't believe because Barnett is regarded as one of the most honest promoters in history along with Vince McMahon Sr. Paul Boesch and Sam Mushnick), that wouldn't be Barnett's biggest crime in wrestling.
That is reserved for his distinction as the guy who convinced Vince Jr. to sign John Cena.
The Bell Auditorium was the best place to watch a wrestling match. They had this noisy ring that sounded like a thunderstorm every time someone came off the top rope and the crowd was loud and crazy. There wasn't a bad seat in the house either.
Even looking back today, Rich's surprised reaction is cool. Kind of interesting when an ending is scripted but the person winning the belt has no idea it's coming. It lends an air of realism to the situation.
I heard Harley say in an interview that he dropped the title as a favor, but the deal was that it wouldn't for any real length of time. Harley did this a couple of times, once with Baba in Japan and I think once with Dusty (I may be wroung). Jack Brisco also dropped the title to Baba for a week. I really don't think this was any kind of a screw job, NWA president Sam Muchnik wouldn't have stood for it. Besides Harley was armed on the road.
it was intelligent business-minded thinking 2 drop the title n japan, it helped build-up the territory as well as losing the title 2 rich & rhodes, this did wonders 4 both of their careers (especially tommy's) & the georgia & florida areas as well, flair did the same 4 world class wrestling n 1984 when he lost the title 2 the late kerry von erich ... man, i can admit that i'm a dinosaur, but the business was so much better back then
Race was not aware of this. Ole is right, Race is a legit BA. Why do you think Andre was so close to the ring and the first one to come in. Andre was sent in to may sure Race kept his cool. You can see Andre staring @ Race and Race realizing there is nothing he can do.
How could he try to kick out with the fast count. Even the move Rich used for the pin is a set. I can't remember Rich ever using this move to win a match again.
People can say all their reasons for a 4 day title change but Jim Barnett brokered this switch on a sexual favor, later repeated by Roy Shire in the mid 80's in court testimony. Yes people, things like this happen.
It's an urban legend. Marcus has it right. Rich was starting to get over, Georgia wanted to become a big time player with its connection to Turner, Race was the champ who wanted to defend the title against some new blood. So he gave Rich a rub. Race was well known for this: He NEVER dropped the title to someone "undeserving." The person he dropped it to had to be a BIG face or someone on the rise. Race always gave big rubs to up and coming REAL talent and that's why I respect him.
You are right. Watch Gary Hart's shoot interview. He speaks of how Harley liked to work with and teach talented younger guys. This would eventually make him lots of money.
@JonathanVonErich Not that I am aware of. The reign was short to give credibility to Tommy as rising star and build him as a threat to Race. It also helped kickstart the Georgia territory. Harley did the same thing for a young Dusty Rhodes: Gave him a 5 day reign. It got Dusty over and set up future sold out feuds with Race now that Dusty could be believed to beat Race. However he wouldn't do it for anyone. They had to have drawing potential and be able to wrestle.
@JonathanVonErich Remember this was the era of Kayfabe. If Tommy, who was young and green, kept the title for a long time, it would have not only discredited Race but perhaps the business. By keeping it short, it shows Tommy's growing potential and threat to the title...
and provides incentive to not miss a night at The Omni because as Gordon would say: "The competition is so keen that on any given night someone can be beat."
@mongoose704 Wow, you have a great point....Thank you for your answer, everything you said makes perfect sense....It's true, Dusty held the title for 5 days and after that he was a bigger star and a very credible contender for the world title. But do you know why Dusty lost the belt to Ric Flair in 1981 ?? Because i have heard that Dusty didn't want to lose it and wanted a longer reign.....the NWA decided that Dusty wasn't good enough ??
@JonathanVonErich Why did Dusty drop the title to Flair after another short reign? I'm not sure. He was over. I am inclined to think he got hurt. I do know the NWA had big plans for Flair prior to the title change. Furthermore the NWA seemed to prefer having long reigning heel champions and build up for the huge payoff when the good guy finally beats the bad guy after months of barely escaping.
Aside from speculation I don't know. It's a good question I'd like to see answered.
@mongoose704 Thank you for your answer....I was asking because I saw a documentary on the career of Ric Flair the other day and in this great documentary Flair Himself said that Dusty didn't want to lose the belt and that Dusty wanted a longer title reign....But i think you are right, the NWA seemed to prefer having long reigning heel champions....I think the only good guys who had a long title reign with the NWA belt were Jack Brisco, Dory Funk and of course the greatest ever, Lou Thesz....
"Race stated in a shoot interview with RF Video that the title switch was to ensure a power struggle in the Georgia territory ended with promoter Jim Barnett victorious (Barnett was a minority holder in Georgia and the booker of the NWA title, and the title switch, with the fan interest and boosted live gates, shored up his position)."
Thank you very much for your answer...Mongoose who, in your opinion, was the greatest NWA World Champion of all-time ?? Me, my top 5 is:
1. Lou Thesz
2. Harley Race
3. Ric Flair
4. Dory Funk jr.
5. Jack Brisco
I'm only 25 but i know how much Thesz is important to wrestling. He was the first wrestler who was a superstar when TV appear, and at one time he held the title for 7 years...Harley Race is my favorite but he didn't had the impact that Thezs had. What about you Mongoose ??
@JonathanVonErich Yep. The reason for this was due to the fact that the world champion's job was to boost the house by having him face the local babyface star and barely escaping setting up the rematch when the champ came back to town.
@mongoose704 you are right on. watch gary hart's shoot interview. he says harley was all about putting younger guys with talent over(rich,von erich,etc..).
Sexual favor rumor is one of the worst and most unfounded ever. Switch was done to bolster the Georgia territory which had a national/international TV deal at the time and stood poised to become the main territory of the NWA. Pure and simple. Rich was the most over face there at the time.
It was testified to in court and Rich never sued Shire for slander did he? Nor have I ever heard a denial from him. You can believe what you want but Barnett got his jollies and changed history at the same time.
Right on Marcus. Good to hear from someone who knows wrestling history. Race did the same for Dusty Rhodes as well and that too was a five day title reign. But it got an up and coming Dusty Rhodes over huge! Race liked giving younger, charismatic guys a push so he could have big drawing title defenses in the future and make money.
And that's what this business is all about: MONEY.
Dusty has been over since the Pak Song face with the Graham's in FL. I doubt Dusty cared for the title because of the American Dream bit. Dusty was more into face fueds and of course you can't carry a title into a fued. He & Race were truly two different types in those day of Kayfabe!! As far as Rich goes, he was not Dusty Rhodes and was totally committed to the GA (Barnett) territory. Which leaves one to ponder. Good post thanks.
Too many rumors. Forget the sensationalism. Politics win out. Georgia had more TV exposure at this time than any other region due to TBS, and Rich was their top face. It was done because some people believed it strenghened Georgia and therefore the NWA at that time. Whether you agree it was the right move or not, that was the motivation. Race agreed to it because it would make him a 5 time champion.
LOL! Outside the ring, Harley was a legit tough guy. In Ole Anderson's book, Ole named guys that were legit outside the ring. Race, Slater, McDaniels, Murdock, Gouldie. Don't let that belly fool you.
Tommy Rich wasn't suppose to win the belt but got tired of getting screwed over so he just took it. The N.W.A. told him to give it back back in a throw match or he was out of wrestling.
Not true. Tommy didn't know he was winning the belt until he got the pin on Race. The NWA Board of Directors did a favor for Barnett. The NWA put the belt back on Race's waist because there was no way Rich was going to draw as the champion.
If the NWA board of directors didnt think Rich was deserving of the title, then they wouldn't have given him the belt. Windahm also could have been champion, but not Luger, no way
Tommy was a hugely popular wrestler back then - that goes without saying - but the NWA prefered long-term champs that could protect themselves in a case of a double cross in different territories; that is the way it has been ever since Lou Thez was crowned the first NWA champ back in the 40's.
The prefered thweeners for long term reigns, but true faces got short runs. Think Dusty Rhodes, 1979. I am convinced the NWA was planning to give David Von Erich a run before his murder. He had worked as a heel in Florida briefly and I believe that was a test.
@TheMarcusMarcs By all accounts it was indeed a test for David. He had all the tools to be a great heel/tweener champion. He had the size, the mic skills and was tough as nails.
this was the screw job before the montreal screwjob, i saw em talkin it about this on legends roundtable 24/7. tommy wasnt supose to get the win here. they say harley was furious after this match
7077 you are a fool ,a boob it was never a screw job hayes is a jackoff ,race let rich win so the promoters could get a big lift in there war vs a rival promoter, harley race if it was a job would have beat down ever one of the wresters ,rich ,ref the promoter etc wow,wake the f--- up ,racewas the toughest wrestler of all time and had thec respect of all, and noone would dare to do that .wow
Attention fans of Tommy Rich, I just posted a new match of Tommy Rich vs. One Man Kru that took place in Haleyville, Alabama on 11/27/08. It was a classic!!! Check it out.
To add to my previous comment, looking at the finish, I'm not even sure if Rich was in on the Race screw-job, but I'm certain the referee was. At the end of the Thesz press, if you completely ignore the referee and just watch Rich, it appeared that he was motioning his head to count one, two, and then Harley rolling his shoulder over. But instead of a two count and a kickout, it appears that the referee's count began at one the instant he landed on the mat (before Rich counted one).
I think the pinfall was a double-cross on Harley Race. Michael Hayes, who worked in the Georgia territory back in 1981, had an interesting story about this. Buck Robley (the booker) told Hayes and the other Freebirds to keep an eye out on the end of the match and to stay back from Race (the Freebirds not knowing what the finish was), hinting at possibly something Race wouldn't like. Looking at the finish, I think it's a double-cross because it appears that Race's shoulder was up before 3.
I remember watching all this back in the day. The Rich -Sawyer feud was a wild one. G.C.W. from 1979-1982 was awesome-all the greats and future greats appeared. Maybe some video will make its way on you tube. I agree fully with chuckgan-that was NOT Andre lifting Rich! Like he said Andre had a full "fro back then (and probably wouldn't be in Augusta Ga.) Big Bill Dromo sounds much mote reasonable. NOT ANDRE
no i dont want that swc crap i want to see the last battle of atlanta and everything that led up to it. i cant believe there is no footage of one of the bloddiest feuds in history
Rich was talented, a great face and one hell of a worker. Alot of wrestlers of that era have nothing but nice things to say about the man. I wish they would have given him a longer reign.
Hogan only got the Rocky role 'cause no one could find Superstar Graham, the man Stallone wanted for the part. Man this was wrestling though. It's a shame that McMahon destroyed it. Rich did not deserve the belt and he didn't get it because of his wrestling.
Are you kidding me? Tommy Rich deserved to hold the NWA World Title just like many other wrestlers that weren't given the opportunity. Ted Dibiase and Barry Windham both couldve used a week or two as NWA Champ. There was a moment there that Ricky Morton was so hot that he couldve deserved it also.
I disagree. Tommy Rich was a matinee idol. And while he was an ok wrestler he was not NWA championship material. I do agree with you about Ted Dibiase and Barry Windham though. Both Dibiase and Windham were exceptional wrestlers and definitely championship material. And Windham, by the way, was indeed NWA champion defeating the legendary Great Muta for that honor.
I remember the PWI report rating the top wrestlers in the world. Flair was an easy #1, but to many people's surprise Whindam came in at #2. I do believe Whindam could've carried the belt. I also never had a problem with Rich carrying it, since his reign was short. I agree with the fact that he didn't fit the mold, but those "political" favors kept the different regions in the NWA relevant. I think the end of the NWA had a lot more to do with Black Saturday than this.
Unfortunately because of WTBS Tommy Rich was probably the most popular wrestler in the country at the time (he didn't deserve to be). Power in the NWA was changing from Sam Muchnick and Bob Geigel to Jim Barnett, Eddie Grahan and eventually Crockett. Giving this prestigious strap to somebody like Rich was a slap in the face to anyone who knows anything about the history of the NWA. That strap was given to workers not matinee idols, then later on it was given to Rhodes and a Von Erich.
Oh Rich had charisma and a good look. Unfortunately he let his lifestyle and his weight get out of control. Rich had real potential. Race didn't job to just anyone. It was Race who decided to drop the title to Tommy. It's too bad really. Today Rich doesn't like talking about his career, likely because he knows what could've been.
I read something that Rich gave Jim Barnett some "oral pleasure" to get his 4 day world title reign. I am not sure if it is true though, but I did read that somewhere.
No you didn't fuckin read that somewhere you fuckin liar. There isn't a magazine in the country that's going to print something like that. They'd be sued.
Plus, I never said that I believed what the publication hinted at, I merely let people know what I read.Instead of calling me a fuckin liar, you could have just asked me about it.
I think the whole Tennessee crowd has suffered with Vince as well as whatever happened to Missy Hyatt. Hot Stuff, her husband, RIP, and Tommy feuded, but the whole group never fit in after Missy lost her power with Ted Turner.
Tommy Rich was a child prodigy of Tojo Yamamoto in the Nick Gulas wrestling promotion. They were aligned against Jackie Fargo, who had the strut years before Buddy Rogers. No wonder the King was surprised at being attacked. Fargo had a pretty easy time with Lawler when he started at 16. I worked in Tommy's home town of Hendersonville. Also in the promotion was Jeff Jarret's dad. It is good to see them have some success.
Unfortunately Tojo killed himself in Hermitage, blocks from my parents house. He was on doalysis and for years he still was able to manage, but when that was gone, it must have broke his heart. My father got Tojo's autograph when Tojo was shopping in downtown Nashville. He was a local hero, like Fargo. Without these guys, the WWF would not exist. Hogan made his fame and scored his Rocky role as AWA champ. Southern Wrestling is the Best Wrestling!!
This video is amazing! Thanks for posting it. I was 10 when Tommy won the belt. Its a shame he held it for only one week.......Tommy Rich was awesome!
WOW!!! I was so amazed to find this on you tube, I thought maybe i was the only one whom remembered Tommy Rich, and the others, I truley loved this wrestling, it was so much fun to watch back then, I am getting old, seems so long ago. thanks for bring back such fond memories
lol lisa i remember this too well! I remember my dad and grandpa jumping up and down and me screaming!! I do feel fortunate to have been able to see this fight! Classic at its best!
OHHHHHHHHH my gawd, THis was Wrestling at its best, I loved this Wrestling, My dad and I went often to Hunington Wva and watched the live matches, TOmmy Rich was my dream man back then. gosh I feel so old now to. My brother got my hoocked on this wrestling, I use to go to his house every Sat and watch it, my bro is gone now, but i sure have fond memories of this wrestling. to bad they dont have wrestling like this anylonger, this was when it was still fun to watch
omg, I hate to admit this but i remember sitting in the front row of this match. A little girl watching, sitting on her grandpa's lap! I used to love this!! Oh hell im getting old hahahahaha
Rasslin' at the Bell was awesome back then. I was a kid when this happened. One of the few matches I missed. When ECW came to the Bell back in '99 Tommy was there managing Tracy Smothers. It was awesome, as i thought I would never see rasslin' or Wildfire back in the Bell Auditorioum.
The rumor is false, just more smark nonsense. It was Barnett flexing his political muscle in the NWA. A display of power to send a message to the rest of the board "what happens in the NWA comes out of this office".
exactly all these power plays by Barnett and a few others in the NWA helped to diminish the importance of the NWA Title especially once Vince started his invasion. The NWA territory system was good for the fans and an opportunity for wrestlers to learn their craft, but with too many chiefs and no indians all but killed it. The Rhodes 5 day switch in Aug 79' was also a power move and favor to Eddie Graham anc CWF, although having Dusty as champ far from diminishing the title.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
this was wrestlings worst moment..rich absolutely sucked, his interviews were boring, and his wrestling ability minimal at best..all he ever could say is "that's exactly right gordon"..this was the beginning of the end for the nwa. rich is to blame for it collapsing, what an asshole he was....
Tommy "Wildfire" Rich had a nice run as THEE Star of Georgia Championship Wrestling, he was to Georgia, what Kerry was to Texas. They were incredibly popular Regional Champions, but too many politics involved with the old NWA.
He was in the right place at the right time. He was what the fans wanted in the southeast. Blond hair, good old southern boy, crossover appeal with men and women. I watched him in Memphis before his run and he had some great matches with Lawler.
I was at the Flair-Sting match at the Meadowlands that cold, snowy Friday night in January of 1991. I think that this was one of the last times that a title..maybe other than Flair vs Hart in 92 that the title changed hands at a house show.
Most recent one I can think of was Kevin Nash's (Diesel's) 8-second squash of Bob Backlund for the WWF title a few days after Survivor Series '94. But yeah, even in 1981 this was unusual.
Flair beat Rhodes at a house show in St. Louis in 1986, didn't he? (and Rhodes had beaten him at a "Bash on Tour" at Greesboro which was really a house show as well, just a heavily hyped one with a big card).
Also, didn't Ron Garvin beat Flair for the betl at a house show in 88 as well? That may have been the last one for the NWA/WCW (before the NWA/WCW split at least).
Has anyone ever heard the rumor the referee made a fast 3 count. Story goes the promoter instructed him to do so without Race being aware of it. In other words the title was not supposed to change hands is this true?
From what I have heard, Race was really against dropping the belt to Rich. He did reluctantly agree though as Rich was not to hold the belt for long. Another case of politics, Rich was hot at the time and he had support, although it is hard to know what good came out of it for Rich. Holding it for a week was not much of a statement but I guess he could say he was a World champion.
Exciting and surprising win, but I agree with some of the other comments, Rich was not what Barnett had hoped. They probably would have been better off having Race and Rhodes switch the belts between them a few times, before passing the belt on to Flair who had recently left mid-atlantic and joined GCW in preparation for his NWA title win.
To have the world title change 3 times in one year took some of the credability from the belt itself. Those title changes were political favors for promoters graham, barnett, and crocket. This didn't make the NWA champon look strong at all.
The Rich win was done to push him as the marque star in the Georgia area and thus nationally which at that time had the largest audience reach in the nation thanks to cable TV and the Superstation, but was down right silly. They wanted to show also that the belt could change hands at any time, but Rich was not the caliber of wrestler or draw that the previous NWA champs were, even the transitional/political champs like Baba or Dusty.
when rich won the championship belt, it WAS wrestlings saddest and lowest moment..he sucked, had no class or charisma..his vocabulary existed of yer exactly right gordan..furthermore he couldn't fake it, and dang sure couldn't do it for real..
It was scripted. Rich was RED-HOT at the time and Race didn't mind putting him over. The only deficiency I could find in older wrestling like this was that the champions kept their belts FOREVER. I don't mind long reigns, but not for 50 years at a time. This was a great moment. It was all over the magazines, even if it only lasted a week.
grantorino2009 1 day ago
Somehow I don't think Rich was " supposed " to win the title that night. At least as far as the NWA big shots were concerned. I think the referee fucked up and they just had to play along. That's why Rich lost the title five days later.
rstryker27 2 weeks ago
Rich is my cousin
7mariofan 1 month ago
Thanks for posting this match. I have heard Race was not happy dropping the title but who knows for sure? It was unusual to see the belt change hands in a smaller venue and Rich's reign was very short..
volstar8 3 months ago
I always prefer Tommy Rich as the youngest World Champion... the heck with Lesnar and Orton.
Freebleepers 4 months ago
wildfire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
brucedavis76 5 months ago
Hahahah... Andre stepping in as the insurance policy at the end tends to make me think that perhaps there was some fear on the promoter's part that Race wouldn't take kindly to the title switch... And we all know that NOBODY on God's Green Earth was gonna challenge Andre to a pissing contest!
RAV52 7 months ago
I dont think that was Andre...Andre had the Lion Aphro in those days, didnt he?
ilovejourney1 10 months ago
i will never forget the interview on GCW,when Tommy came out to watch ,the Nature Boys' match,and flair slid the podium out of the way and dressed him down verbally and tld him,the champion wears a 5,000.00 robe,10,000.00 dollars worth of gold and A million dollars of wrestling talent.man those interviews back in Georgia Campionship Wrestling are some of the absolute greatest ever.I encourage some the younger fans to go back and watch them and appreciate the way these guys paved the way
TheAngelus1898 1 year ago
back when a title change was actually BIG news!
foreverhulkamania 1 year ago
u guys are so right.Since Jericho won that undisputed title over AUSTIN N ROCK 4 yrs after he was a cruiserweight in WCW come on,a winover 2 household names!Jericho will never be a household name.i like Chris hes solid wrestler,solid!Mic skills are great but his body is shit.Since then wwe been downill,now had it been angle or lesnar they could hold interest. last time i could tolerate wwe was when orton won from hhh when hhh was doin the flair gimmick.Orton has unlimited potential
daybrightday27 11 months ago
tommy rich was over like a god a this point look at the numbers!early 80s he ws it for bring young girls etc.Way more than Ronnie Garvin!!now wwf you occasional had the koloffs and backlunds and diesels who didnt sell any tickets..but overall mcmahon jr was not goin put u over unless u were selling tickets!thats why he did the opposite wit the face champs.Eddie N Chris would have never been champs but that 1yr he got over his complex but now CMPUNK,MIZ,DOLPH CHAMPIONS? god makes me embarrassed
daybrightday27 11 months ago
@daybrightday27
I agree with what you said, except for putting CM Punk with ziggler and the miz. Punk has a lot of talent, and doesn't deserve to be lumped with those two. Punk is a great World Champion.
carlinrulez666 7 months ago
@carlinrulez666 I always call the Miz the "Fiz" and Ziggler a Billy Gunn clone. Yes, CM Punk does has more talent than both of those two combine.
Freebleepers 2 weeks ago
yea the select few that won the heavyweight title. In the WWE I think just about everyone has held the belt. I heard the other night that Ray Mysterio is a 2 time world heavyweight champion. Nothing against Ray, but are you kidding me?
notta3d 1 year ago
@notta3d Problem is Rey is a great wrestler. One of the best ever but he honestly couldn't be taken seriously as world champ.
RSXemperor 1 year ago
Michael Hayes has said that this was a screwjob; given the fast nature of the count, it is believable...either way, it was good for Tommy and good for business that he won.
Danimal14222 1 year ago
Is this the Omni?
CadillacL 1 year ago
@CadillacL
No, its Augusta, Georgia
mcfrs 10 months ago
i think the guy who came in and picked up tommy rich was angelo king kong mosca...i believe
ganspernanthy 1 year ago
@ganspernanthy
Its Andre the Giant. Angelo Mosca didn't wrestle in Georgia at the time.
mcfrs 10 months ago
People make fun of Tommy Rich now, but back in the day not many wrestlers could get the crowd going like him.
denzelsnipes69 1 year ago
I thought this was going to be the video of him Tommy sucking Jim Barnett's cock,.
HugoRune1976 1 year ago
@HugoRune1976
Tommy Rich aint no queer, like you, shitfuck
americandiablo 1 year ago
@americandiablo Jim Barnette blew his load right in Tommy's southern hick redneck mouth.
HugoRune1976 1 year ago
@HugoRune1976
Where you there HugoFluffer
americandiablo 1 year ago
@HugoRune1976 wtf? lol
TheBigBadWoIf 11 months ago
@TheBigBadWoIf Urban legend says that Rich sucked Jim Barnett's cock to get his title run (all 5 days of it)
DrJReefer 11 months ago
@DrJReefer haha. i never heard that one before but nothing would surprise me. i wonder if any of the really great champs had to do anything...er...uncouth to be champ. i'd hate to think jack brisco went down on bob geigel.
TheBigBadWoIf 11 months ago
@TheBigBadWoIf Well...I can see how men of a certain sexual persuasion would be attracted to working in a business that is the preserve of oiled up muscular men in tight speedos.....
DrJReefer 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@HugoRune1976 You must love gay porn, you faggot
americandiablo 1 year ago
@HugoRune1976
You would wanna see that, wouldnt you, F'ing faggot!
americandiablo 8 months ago
At this point I felt Tommy Rich was going to have a career to rival any in the history of the sport. But by 1985 the bottom began to fall out... Still a wrestling legend though...
RAV52 1 year ago
To all that has responded to this, I appreciate it and thanks.
I guess I am slow in responding back , so sorry for that.
Hoodooswamp 1 year ago
Now it is true that Tommy didn't quite live up to the potential that others thought he had. He was known for his all night partying and then working a four star match the next night but eventually it did catch up to him. He got a big beer gut and lost a lot of his babyface appeal. Tommy Rich was arguably the first superface of the cable TV era. Had he stayed in shape though I'm not sure if he would've retained nationwide appeal. He was always that good 'ol Suthun boy.
mongoose704 1 year ago
the move he used to pin Race is called the Lou Thesz Press.
lvw100 1 year ago
This is a great piece of the NWA championship - very rare footage. That last pinning move by Rich - the flying vertical body block - looks like it could take someone's head off. I had forgotten how well Tommy could move around in the ring.
I think at this time the NWA was looking for someone new to carry the company with the NWA title. It was going to be either Tommy Rich or Ric Flair.
CaptNemo100 1 year ago
For more details on the rise and fall of Tommy Rich, including the reasons behind his NWA World title win, check out my web site, Kentucky Fried Rasslin, and do a search on Tommy Rich, or click his name under popular KFR subjects. As his former manager in Memphis, I got to know Rich pretty well. Heck of a guy, but unfortunately he was young to handle stardom.
tsickboy71 1 year ago
@tsickboy71 I read the article. Its great and should be a mandatory read for the younger guys today. Its sad that he was bigger than every wrestler in the country at one point and one of the first big stars of cable TV and within 2-3 years, he lost it all.
RSXemperor 1 year ago
Even if Tommy had to do some "favors" for Jim Barnett (which I don't believe because Barnett is regarded as one of the most honest promoters in history along with Vince McMahon Sr. Paul Boesch and Sam Mushnick), that wouldn't be Barnett's biggest crime in wrestling.
That is reserved for his distinction as the guy who convinced Vince Jr. to sign John Cena.
RSXemperor 1 year ago 2
was that Andre who came n and picked up tommy at the end?
raiderldp 1 year ago
@raiderldp Yep!
Hoodooswamp 1 year ago
Meet Tommy Rich @ a card in Lynchburg V.A. (U.S.A.) in 1995 He was a asshole to talk to !!!
merishane 1 year ago
April 27, 1981
Hoodooswamp 1 year ago
year?
aglewi41 1 year ago
The Bell Auditorium was the best place to watch a wrestling match. They had this noisy ring that sounded like a thunderstorm every time someone came off the top rope and the crowd was loud and crazy. There wasn't a bad seat in the house either.
denzelsnipes69 1 year ago 2
Shortest reign of the NWA champ Tommy Rich
jerichoY2Jholics 1 year ago
bad part is tommy lost the belt the next nite lol............
sjcskd68 2 years ago
4 days later.
NAYellowjackets 2 years ago
Even looking back today, Rich's surprised reaction is cool. Kind of interesting when an ending is scripted but the person winning the belt has no idea it's coming. It lends an air of realism to the situation.
jarrettlock2000 2 years ago 3
I heard Harley say in an interview that he dropped the title as a favor, but the deal was that it wouldn't for any real length of time. Harley did this a couple of times, once with Baba in Japan and I think once with Dusty (I may be wroung). Jack Brisco also dropped the title to Baba for a week. I really don't think this was any kind of a screw job, NWA president Sam Muchnik wouldn't have stood for it. Besides Harley was armed on the road.
slydewinder 2 years ago 2
it was intelligent business-minded thinking 2 drop the title n japan, it helped build-up the territory as well as losing the title 2 rich & rhodes, this did wonders 4 both of their careers (especially tommy's) & the georgia & florida areas as well, flair did the same 4 world class wrestling n 1984 when he lost the title 2 the late kerry von erich ... man, i can admit that i'm a dinosaur, but the business was so much better back then
3000BCto1985 2 years ago 10
Hay, us dinosaurs need to stick together
slydewinder 2 years ago 3
@3000BCto1985 You're correct, and I couldn't agree with you more about the state of the biz!
bcushing 1 year ago
@3000BCto1985 you aint kidding the biz was better back then!
singlewing44 1 year ago
@3000BCto1985 you aint kidding the biz was better back then!
singlewing44 1 year ago
@3000BCto1985 WASN'T GREAT!
melbz1266 5 months ago
Race was not aware of this. Ole is right, Race is a legit BA. Why do you think Andre was so close to the ring and the first one to come in. Andre was sent in to may sure Race kept his cool. You can see Andre staring @ Race and Race realizing there is nothing he can do.
Tide2ya 2 years ago
sure he was, he didn't even TRY to kick out.
HugoRune1976 2 years ago
How could he try to kick out with the fast count. Even the move Rich used for the pin is a set. I can't remember Rich ever using this move to win a match again.
Tide2ya 2 years ago
Rich used the Lou Thesz Press a lot in Georgia.
mongoose704 2 years ago 3
People can say all their reasons for a 4 day title change but Jim Barnett brokered this switch on a sexual favor, later repeated by Roy Shire in the mid 80's in court testimony. Yes people, things like this happen.
ruedydude 2 years ago
?? sexual favors??
bobmonk64 2 years ago
It's an urban legend. Marcus has it right. Rich was starting to get over, Georgia wanted to become a big time player with its connection to Turner, Race was the champ who wanted to defend the title against some new blood. So he gave Rich a rub. Race was well known for this: He NEVER dropped the title to someone "undeserving." The person he dropped it to had to be a BIG face or someone on the rise. Race always gave big rubs to up and coming REAL talent and that's why I respect him.
mongoose704 2 years ago 14
You are right. Watch Gary Hart's shoot interview. He speaks of how Harley liked to work with and teach talented younger guys. This would eventually make him lots of money.
NAYellowjackets 2 years ago
@mongoose704 Tommy Rich lost the title because of his drugs/alcool problems, right ??
JonathanVonErich 1 year ago
@JonathanVonErich Not that I am aware of. The reign was short to give credibility to Tommy as rising star and build him as a threat to Race. It also helped kickstart the Georgia territory. Harley did the same thing for a young Dusty Rhodes: Gave him a 5 day reign. It got Dusty over and set up future sold out feuds with Race now that Dusty could be believed to beat Race. However he wouldn't do it for anyone. They had to have drawing potential and be able to wrestle.
mongoose704 1 year ago
@JonathanVonErich Remember this was the era of Kayfabe. If Tommy, who was young and green, kept the title for a long time, it would have not only discredited Race but perhaps the business. By keeping it short, it shows Tommy's growing potential and threat to the title...
and provides incentive to not miss a night at The Omni because as Gordon would say: "The competition is so keen that on any given night someone can be beat."
mongoose704 1 year ago
@mongoose704 Wow, you have a great point....Thank you for your answer, everything you said makes perfect sense....It's true, Dusty held the title for 5 days and after that he was a bigger star and a very credible contender for the world title. But do you know why Dusty lost the belt to Ric Flair in 1981 ?? Because i have heard that Dusty didn't want to lose it and wanted a longer reign.....the NWA decided that Dusty wasn't good enough ??
JonathanVonErich 1 year ago
@JonathanVonErich Why did Dusty drop the title to Flair after another short reign? I'm not sure. He was over. I am inclined to think he got hurt. I do know the NWA had big plans for Flair prior to the title change. Furthermore the NWA seemed to prefer having long reigning heel champions and build up for the huge payoff when the good guy finally beats the bad guy after months of barely escaping.
Aside from speculation I don't know. It's a good question I'd like to see answered.
mongoose704 1 year ago
@mongoose704 Thank you for your answer....I was asking because I saw a documentary on the career of Ric Flair the other day and in this great documentary Flair Himself said that Dusty didn't want to lose the belt and that Dusty wanted a longer title reign....But i think you are right, the NWA seemed to prefer having long reigning heel champions....I think the only good guys who had a long title reign with the NWA belt were Jack Brisco, Dory Funk and of course the greatest ever, Lou Thesz....
JonathanVonErich 1 year ago
@JonathanVonErich That makes sense. I can't imagine any wrestler wanting to drop the title. Back then holding the belt meant money.
mongoose704 1 year ago
@JonathanVonErich Here's more on the Race Rich title swap.
"Race stated in a shoot interview with RF Video that the title switch was to ensure a power struggle in the Georgia territory ended with promoter Jim Barnett victorious (Barnett was a minority holder in Georgia and the booker of the NWA title, and the title switch, with the fan interest and boosted live gates, shored up his position)."
mongoose704 1 year ago
@mongoose704
Thank you very much for your answer...Mongoose who, in your opinion, was the greatest NWA World Champion of all-time ?? Me, my top 5 is:
1. Lou Thesz
2. Harley Race
3. Ric Flair
4. Dory Funk jr.
5. Jack Brisco
I'm only 25 but i know how much Thesz is important to wrestling. He was the first wrestler who was a superstar when TV appear, and at one time he held the title for 7 years...Harley Race is my favorite but he didn't had the impact that Thezs had. What about you Mongoose ??
JonathanVonErich 1 year ago
@JonathanVonErich While Thesz was a star in the early days of T.V it was Georgeous George who was wrestlings first true T.V. star.
86lenny 1 year ago
@JonathanVonErich Yep. The reason for this was due to the fact that the world champion's job was to boost the house by having him face the local babyface star and barely escaping setting up the rematch when the champ came back to town.
Sargebri 10 months ago
@mongoose704 you are right on. watch gary hart's shoot interview. he says harley was all about putting younger guys with talent over(rich,von erich,etc..).
NAYellowjackets 3 months ago
Sexual favor rumor is one of the worst and most unfounded ever. Switch was done to bolster the Georgia territory which had a national/international TV deal at the time and stood poised to become the main territory of the NWA. Pure and simple. Rich was the most over face there at the time.
TheMarcusMarcs 2 years ago 2
It was testified to in court and Rich never sued Shire for slander did he? Nor have I ever heard a denial from him. You can believe what you want but Barnett got his jollies and changed history at the same time.
ruedydude 2 years ago
Rich has denied it several times. In fact, he is quite vehement in his denial. He gets angry about it.
mamacornettesmoney 2 years ago
Right on Marcus. Good to hear from someone who knows wrestling history. Race did the same for Dusty Rhodes as well and that too was a five day title reign. But it got an up and coming Dusty Rhodes over huge! Race liked giving younger, charismatic guys a push so he could have big drawing title defenses in the future and make money.
And that's what this business is all about: MONEY.
mongoose704 2 years ago 4
Dusty has been over since the Pak Song face with the Graham's in FL. I doubt Dusty cared for the title because of the American Dream bit. Dusty was more into face fueds and of course you can't carry a title into a fued. He & Race were truly two different types in those day of Kayfabe!! As far as Rich goes, he was not Dusty Rhodes and was totally committed to the GA (Barnett) territory. Which leaves one to ponder. Good post thanks.
Tide2ya 2 years ago
your the fag.
NAYellowjackets 2 years ago
Why, in the first place was there a court battle? I am just wondering.
sondog42 2 years ago
Too many rumors. Forget the sensationalism. Politics win out. Georgia had more TV exposure at this time than any other region due to TBS, and Rich was their top face. It was done because some people believed it strenghened Georgia and therefore the NWA at that time. Whether you agree it was the right move or not, that was the motivation. Race agreed to it because it would make him a 5 time champion.
TheMarcusMarcs 2 years ago
great to see such rare footage !!!!
ProCorona 2 years ago
Great memories!Old school rules!!!!!!!!!!!
Mrslammie 2 years ago 3
Harley Race could make me look like a superstar if we wrestled, he was that great.
alcorderyjr 2 years ago 2
Wildfire was THE SHIT back in the day.
bigbluedinosaur 2 years ago 3
Agreed. Wildfire was OVER at this time like no other face.
samsdaddy0525 2 years ago 2
I like Harley's belly. I think its name is "Joe."
darkstar4589 2 years ago
LOL! Outside the ring, Harley was a legit tough guy. In Ole Anderson's book, Ole named guys that were legit outside the ring. Race, Slater, McDaniels, Murdock, Gouldie. Don't let that belly fool you.
mcfrs 2 years ago 2
I never could stand Tommy Rich. He was a shitty wrestler and couldn't interview worth a damn. He also had man tits.
PsychProfessor 2 years ago
Tommy Rich wasn't suppose to win the belt but got tired of getting screwed over so he just took it. The N.W.A. told him to give it back back in a throw match or he was out of wrestling.
6stringgunslinger 2 years ago
Not true. Tommy didn't know he was winning the belt until he got the pin on Race. The NWA Board of Directors did a favor for Barnett. The NWA put the belt back on Race's waist because there was no way Rich was going to draw as the champion.
mcfrs 2 years ago
You are right. For all the doubters, read Ole Anderson and The Assassin's books and they verify this.
samsdaddy0525 2 years ago
Didn't Tommy Rich sleep with Jim Barnett to get the belt?
bjohns1975 2 years ago 2
No, it was done to build a story line.
dkmfwtx 2 years ago
Then how did that rumor get started?
bjohns1975 2 years ago
It was one of many attempts to explain Richs 4 day title reign. There was another one that it was "punishment" for Harley Race being drunk.
Truth is they were positioning Rich to be the top main-event face chasing to regain the title.
dkmfwtx 2 years ago
If the NWA board of directors didnt think Rich was deserving of the title, then they wouldn't have given him the belt. Windahm also could have been champion, but not Luger, no way
ashleybound 2 years ago 2
Tommy was a hugely popular wrestler back then - that goes without saying - but the NWA prefered long-term champs that could protect themselves in a case of a double cross in different territories; that is the way it has been ever since Lou Thez was crowned the first NWA champ back in the 40's.
yardape99 2 years ago
Also the NWA board prefered tweener face/heel wrestlers. Rich was too babyface. Flair, Race, Funks, all could do doubleroles.
VolumedMusicMan 2 years ago
The prefered thweeners for long term reigns, but true faces got short runs. Think Dusty Rhodes, 1979. I am convinced the NWA was planning to give David Von Erich a run before his murder. He had worked as a heel in Florida briefly and I believe that was a test.
TheMarcusMarcs 2 years ago
@TheMarcusMarcs By all accounts it was indeed a test for David. He had all the tools to be a great heel/tweener champion. He had the size, the mic skills and was tough as nails.
WatchVenusSpa 1 year ago
this was the screw job before the montreal screwjob, i saw em talkin it about this on legends roundtable 24/7. tommy wasnt supose to get the win here. they say harley was furious after this match
stubby42642 2 years ago
i dont think ANYONE ever put harley race's shoulders on the mat unless HE decided it was gonna happen...haha
7plymaple 2 years ago 2
Michael Hayes worked you.
NAYellowjackets 2 years ago
rich beats race, holds the title for a week
kevinhardy 3 years ago
6 days. Get yer fakts str8!
alancaltry 2 years ago
That could be Garillia Monsoon congraduading
Tommy Rich on his wining the Wold Title from
Harley Race.Or it could be Andre,the video is
to dark.
zisoul 3 years ago
it is andre
maxearl 3 years ago
7077 you are a fool ,a boob it was never a screw job hayes is a jackoff ,race let rich win so the promoters could get a big lift in there war vs a rival promoter, harley race if it was a job would have beat down ever one of the wresters ,rich ,ref the promoter etc wow,wake the f--- up ,racewas the toughest wrestler of all time and had thec respect of all, and noone would dare to do that .wow
maxearl 3 years ago 4
Attention fans of Tommy Rich, I just posted a new match of Tommy Rich vs. One Man Kru that took place in Haleyville, Alabama on 11/27/08. It was a classic!!! Check it out.
OneManKruFan 3 years ago
To add to my previous comment, looking at the finish, I'm not even sure if Rich was in on the Race screw-job, but I'm certain the referee was. At the end of the Thesz press, if you completely ignore the referee and just watch Rich, it appeared that he was motioning his head to count one, two, and then Harley rolling his shoulder over. But instead of a two count and a kickout, it appears that the referee's count began at one the instant he landed on the mat (before Rich counted one).
Crusader7077 3 years ago
I think the pinfall was a double-cross on Harley Race. Michael Hayes, who worked in the Georgia territory back in 1981, had an interesting story about this. Buck Robley (the booker) told Hayes and the other Freebirds to keep an eye out on the end of the match and to stay back from Race (the Freebirds not knowing what the finish was), hinting at possibly something Race wouldn't like. Looking at the finish, I think it's a double-cross because it appears that Race's shoulder was up before 3.
Crusader7077 3 years ago
I remember watching all this back in the day. The Rich -Sawyer feud was a wild one. G.C.W. from 1979-1982 was awesome-all the greats and future greats appeared. Maybe some video will make its way on you tube. I agree fully with chuckgan-that was NOT Andre lifting Rich! Like he said Andre had a full "fro back then (and probably wouldn't be in Augusta Ga.) Big Bill Dromo sounds much mote reasonable. NOT ANDRE
sknyrd77 3 years ago
It was Andre the Giant!!!! Since when does Bill Dromo step over the top rope.
mcfrs 2 years ago
Definitely not Andre. His hair wasa lot bigger by then.
chuckgan 3 years ago
no i dont want that swc crap i want to see the last battle of atlanta and everything that led up to it. i cant believe there is no footage of one of the bloddiest feuds in history
imdagr8st 3 years ago
Andre had already wrestled and showered. It was Andre. Do you want the full card?
mcfrs 2 years ago
William Bell Auditorium Augusta, Ga
Monday April 27th, 1981
Rich defeats Race for the title
Ted Dibiase and a Mystery Partner VS. The Freebirds. The Mystery Partner was Andre the Giant.
Mr. Wrestling 2 vs. The Stomper
mcfrs 2 years ago 4
Bell Auditorium is now The James Brown Arena....
d820m 2 years ago
@d820m The Augusta-Richmond county Civic Center became The James Brown Arena. The Bell is still the same.
NAYellowjackets 1 year ago
Rich was talented, a great face and one hell of a worker. Alot of wrestlers of that era have nothing but nice things to say about the man. I wish they would have given him a longer reign.
creepy2poles 3 years ago
Wasnt Tommy Rich champion for only 5 days or 7 something like that?
gvader 3 years ago
Hogan only got the Rocky role 'cause no one could find Superstar Graham, the man Stallone wanted for the part. Man this was wrestling though. It's a shame that McMahon destroyed it. Rich did not deserve the belt and he didn't get it because of his wrestling.
Darkchyld702 3 years ago
Are you kidding me? Tommy Rich deserved to hold the NWA World Title just like many other wrestlers that weren't given the opportunity. Ted Dibiase and Barry Windham both couldve used a week or two as NWA Champ. There was a moment there that Ricky Morton was so hot that he couldve deserved it also.
phenomfranklinstein 2 years ago
I disagree. Tommy Rich was a matinee idol. And while he was an ok wrestler he was not NWA championship material. I do agree with you about Ted Dibiase and Barry Windham though. Both Dibiase and Windham were exceptional wrestlers and definitely championship material. And Windham, by the way, was indeed NWA champion defeating the legendary Great Muta for that honor.
Darkchyld702 2 years ago
Idont think Windham qwas a good champ at all, he couldnt the company the way other champs did
nwawrestler 2 years ago
I remember the PWI report rating the top wrestlers in the world. Flair was an easy #1, but to many people's surprise Whindam came in at #2. I do believe Whindam could've carried the belt. I also never had a problem with Rich carrying it, since his reign was short. I agree with the fact that he didn't fit the mold, but those "political" favors kept the different regions in the NWA relevant. I think the end of the NWA had a lot more to do with Black Saturday than this.
TheMarcusMarcs 2 years ago
McMahon turned wrestling into some kind of circus !
erwintommy 3 years ago 2
Unfortunately because of WTBS Tommy Rich was probably the most popular wrestler in the country at the time (he didn't deserve to be). Power in the NWA was changing from Sam Muchnick and Bob Geigel to Jim Barnett, Eddie Grahan and eventually Crockett. Giving this prestigious strap to somebody like Rich was a slap in the face to anyone who knows anything about the history of the NWA. That strap was given to workers not matinee idols, then later on it was given to Rhodes and a Von Erich.
SandyKrebs 3 years ago
i agree
natureboysealy 3 years ago
Oh Rich had charisma and a good look. Unfortunately he let his lifestyle and his weight get out of control. Rich had real potential. Race didn't job to just anyone. It was Race who decided to drop the title to Tommy. It's too bad really. Today Rich doesn't like talking about his career, likely because he knows what could've been.
nowayjose470 3 years ago
I read something that Rich gave Jim Barnett some "oral pleasure" to get his 4 day world title reign. I am not sure if it is true though, but I did read that somewhere.
MJPraven 3 years ago
No you didn't fuckin read that somewhere you fuckin liar. There isn't a magazine in the country that's going to print something like that. They'd be sued.
IncorruptibleTruth 3 years ago
I am not lying.I have not reason to lie. The publication I read it from did not flat out say it, but hinted at it, that is why no one was sued.
MJPraven 3 years ago
lol
SRidings777 2 years ago
Plus, I never said that I believed what the publication hinted at, I merely let people know what I read.Instead of calling me a fuckin liar, you could have just asked me about it.
MJPraven 3 years ago
It was given to Rich as a favor to the promoter. Flair was the man and he still is.
ewoldt 3 years ago 2
I think the whole Tennessee crowd has suffered with Vince as well as whatever happened to Missy Hyatt. Hot Stuff, her husband, RIP, and Tommy feuded, but the whole group never fit in after Missy lost her power with Ted Turner.
bmcc333 3 years ago
Tommy Rich was a child prodigy of Tojo Yamamoto in the Nick Gulas wrestling promotion. They were aligned against Jackie Fargo, who had the strut years before Buddy Rogers. No wonder the King was surprised at being attacked. Fargo had a pretty easy time with Lawler when he started at 16. I worked in Tommy's home town of Hendersonville. Also in the promotion was Jeff Jarret's dad. It is good to see them have some success.
bmcc333 3 years ago
Unfortunately Tojo killed himself in Hermitage, blocks from my parents house. He was on doalysis and for years he still was able to manage, but when that was gone, it must have broke his heart. My father got Tojo's autograph when Tojo was shopping in downtown Nashville. He was a local hero, like Fargo. Without these guys, the WWF would not exist. Hogan made his fame and scored his Rocky role as AWA champ. Southern Wrestling is the Best Wrestling!!
bmcc333 3 years ago
Tommy Rich, LOL, his last name is about the opposite of what he really is.
keyholder83 3 years ago
This video is amazing! Thanks for posting it. I was 10 when Tommy won the belt. Its a shame he held it for only one week.......Tommy Rich was awesome!
LCARLAN2 3 years ago
WOW!!! I was so amazed to find this on you tube, I thought maybe i was the only one whom remembered Tommy Rich, and the others, I truley loved this wrestling, it was so much fun to watch back then, I am getting old, seems so long ago. thanks for bring back such fond memories
lisag7567 3 years ago
lol lisa i remember this too well! I remember my dad and grandpa jumping up and down and me screaming!! I do feel fortunate to have been able to see this fight! Classic at its best!
IrishEyez01 3 years ago
OHHHHHHHHH my gawd, THis was Wrestling at its best, I loved this Wrestling, My dad and I went often to Hunington Wva and watched the live matches, TOmmy Rich was my dream man back then. gosh I feel so old now to. My brother got my hoocked on this wrestling, I use to go to his house every Sat and watch it, my bro is gone now, but i sure have fond memories of this wrestling. to bad they dont have wrestling like this anylonger, this was when it was still fun to watch
lisag7567 3 years ago
omg, I hate to admit this but i remember sitting in the front row of this match. A little girl watching, sitting on her grandpa's lap! I used to love this!! Oh hell im getting old hahahahaha
IrishEyez01 3 years ago
the bell auditorium! april 1981 i was there too!...good times
MrSupermana19 2 years ago
:) yup time sure does fly doesn't it *grin*
IrishEyez01 2 years ago
Rasslin' at the Bell was awesome back then. I was a kid when this happened. One of the few matches I missed. When ECW came to the Bell back in '99 Tommy was there managing Tracy Smothers. It was awesome, as i thought I would never see rasslin' or Wildfire back in the Bell Auditorioum.
NAYellowjackets 2 years ago
wasnt there a rumor that rich had to blow jim barnett to get that one week reign?
TBro278 3 years ago 2
The rumor is false, just more smark nonsense. It was Barnett flexing his political muscle in the NWA. A display of power to send a message to the rest of the board "what happens in the NWA comes out of this office".
junta028 3 years ago 2
exactly all these power plays by Barnett and a few others in the NWA helped to diminish the importance of the NWA Title especially once Vince started his invasion. The NWA territory system was good for the fans and an opportunity for wrestlers to learn their craft, but with too many chiefs and no indians all but killed it. The Rhodes 5 day switch in Aug 79' was also a power move and favor to Eddie Graham anc CWF, although having Dusty as champ far from diminishing the title.
Augustus212 3 years ago
Great insight on all your posts in this thread. Sam Muchnick held it all together and when he stepped down the writing was on the wall for the NWA.
Fit4Life1967 3 years ago
i believe the last time any world title changed hands during a house show was when diesel won it
NYRangerfan625 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this was wrestlings worst moment..rich absolutely sucked, his interviews were boring, and his wrestling ability minimal at best..all he ever could say is "that's exactly right gordon"..this was the beginning of the end for the nwa. rich is to blame for it collapsing, what an asshole he was....
1kyredneck1 3 years ago
What I remember most about this is that by the time GCW came back on to tell you he'd won the title, he'd already lost it.
Maestrohbill 3 years ago 2
Tommy "Wildfire" Rich had a nice run as THEE Star of Georgia Championship Wrestling, he was to Georgia, what Kerry was to Texas. They were incredibly popular Regional Champions, but too many politics involved with the old NWA.
menarddr 3 years ago
He was in the right place at the right time. He was what the fans wanted in the southeast. Blond hair, good old southern boy, crossover appeal with men and women. I watched him in Memphis before his run and he had some great matches with Lawler.
volstar88 3 years ago
I was at the Flair-Sting match at the Meadowlands that cold, snowy Friday night in January of 1991. I think that this was one of the last times that a title..maybe other than Flair vs Hart in 92 that the title changed hands at a house show.
aragin1966 3 years ago
Most recent one I can think of was Kevin Nash's (Diesel's) 8-second squash of Bob Backlund for the WWF title a few days after Survivor Series '94. But yeah, even in 1981 this was unusual.
MikeHL78 3 years ago
that's true...this was the last time a title was won at a house show........
d820m 2 years ago
Flair beat Rhodes at a house show in St. Louis in 1986, didn't he? (and Rhodes had beaten him at a "Bash on Tour" at Greesboro which was really a house show as well, just a heavily hyped one with a big card).
Also, didn't Ron Garvin beat Flair for the betl at a house show in 88 as well? That may have been the last one for the NWA/WCW (before the NWA/WCW split at least).
mamacornettesmoney 2 years ago
@d820m It happened in the AWA a lot.
WatchVenusSpa 1 year ago
Has anyone ever heard the rumor the referee made a fast 3 count. Story goes the promoter instructed him to do so without Race being aware of it. In other words the title was not supposed to change hands is this true?
jackieorocks 3 years ago
From what I have heard, Race was really against dropping the belt to Rich. He did reluctantly agree though as Rich was not to hold the belt for long. Another case of politics, Rich was hot at the time and he had support, although it is hard to know what good came out of it for Rich. Holding it for a week was not much of a statement but I guess he could say he was a World champion.
volstar88 3 years ago
Exciting and surprising win, but I agree with some of the other comments, Rich was not what Barnett had hoped. They probably would have been better off having Race and Rhodes switch the belts between them a few times, before passing the belt on to Flair who had recently left mid-atlantic and joined GCW in preparation for his NWA title win.
Augustus212 3 years ago
To have the world title change 3 times in one year took some of the credability from the belt itself. Those title changes were political favors for promoters graham, barnett, and crocket. This didn't make the NWA champon look strong at all.
VolumedMusicMan 3 years ago
The Rich win was done to push him as the marque star in the Georgia area and thus nationally which at that time had the largest audience reach in the nation thanks to cable TV and the Superstation, but was down right silly. They wanted to show also that the belt could change hands at any time, but Rich was not the caliber of wrestler or draw that the previous NWA champs were, even the transitional/political champs like Baba or Dusty.
Augustus212 3 years ago
when rich won the championship belt, it WAS wrestlings saddest and lowest moment..he sucked, had no class or charisma..his vocabulary existed of yer exactly right gordan..furthermore he couldn't fake it, and dang sure couldn't do it for real..
1kyredneck1 3 years ago
Wow. I never knew this footage existed! Odd to see Rich win with a Thesz press. Thanks for sharing!
sirfdeadly 4 years ago
who beat tommy? flair?
bonscott55 4 years ago