Recently, while listening to the Jim Cornette Drive Thru, Jim and Brian discussed late 1983, Mid South Wrestling, and the Macho Man Randy Savage. It was a super interesting history lesson, and made me think about how much the wrestling scene could have changed if this one thing happened.
By 1983, Randy Savage had spent the last 5 years working for his father ICW promotion. ICW ran in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama. ICW was a main rival of CWA, running in direct opposition of Memphis wrestling for many years. They were able to raid talent from surrounding promotions and form a decent stable of wrestlers, and a decent little promotion. Part of ICW strategy was to focus more on other promotions, then themselves. Promos aired on their television challenging the likes of Lawler, Jarrett, Dundee and Tojo Yamamoto to matches vs their top star Randy Savage. There was some legit animosity between ICW and other promotions in the area. This animosity, and a variety of other reasons, lead to a legit fight between Randy Savage and Bill Dundee outside a gym one day. I’ll let you look that one up on your own. By late 83, ICW was slowing down, ultimately closing for good in 1984. Angelo Poffo was then on the hunt, looking for places for his boys Randy and Lanny to work. Let’s pause the story here.
By mid to late 1983, Bill Watts mid south wrestling had hit a lull period. Mid South had been a big man promotion and the matches were starting to become repetitive and dull. The wrestlers there were great, but the main event picture typically featured the same thing, and the fans were looking for a change. Ernie Ladd was the Booker, but Watts was looking for a change. Watts reached out to Ole Anderson in Georgia to work out a deal. Some Georgia wrestlers starting appearing on Mid south television, including the road Warriors. It was also around this time, that Lanny Poffo rolled in. Poffo was being pushed for a nice baby face run. Also during this time, Randy Savage’s name started poppin up during broadcasts. There was even a Randy Savage hype video! It looked as tho Savage was coming to mid south. Around this exact same time, Watts moved on from Ole and started discussions with Jerry Jarrett about a talent exchange. They ultimately reached an agreement, and 3 notable Memphis talents were on their way to Mid South. Jim Cornette, Bobby Eaton and Dennis Coundry. The Midnight express was born. Along with the Midnight, Mid South brought in a new Booker to replace Ernie Ladd - Bill Dundee. Dundee and the Midnight express helped mid south get over the hump, and ticket sales increased. However, with this new regime in charge, talk of Randy Savage comin into mid south stopped.
The Poffo’s and Savage ultimately went to Memphis. Savage and Lawler engaged in a fun fued, while the brothers worked some great matches with the rock and roll express.
In 1985, Jimmy Hart made his way to the WWF. Hart had spent the last 7 years working in Memphis. When he was up there, he told WWF officials, that the best wrestler in the world worked in Memphis. Before you knew it, Savage was in the WWF.
It appears Bill Dundee moving to book Mid South is what stopped Savage was joining his brother in the promotion. Had Savage moved to Mid South, I’m certain the wrestling landscape of the 80’s dramatically changes. Savage doesn’t go to the WWF in 85. He becomes the biggest star of Mid South, main events the Superdome a time or two and perhaps keeps Mid South from folding up. I would almost guarantee he works a number of matches vs Ric Flair in the mid 80’s, and imagine how good those would be. Assuming Mid South does fold up in 86, he probably goes to the WWF, but he would be under contract with Crocket too, so he could have ended up on Crockets promotion by the end of the 80’s.
What are your thoughts on this potential what if?
By 1983, Randy Savage had spent the last 5 years working for his father ICW promotion. ICW ran in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama. ICW was a main rival of CWA, running in direct opposition of Memphis wrestling for many years. They were able to raid talent from surrounding promotions and form a decent stable of wrestlers, and a decent little promotion. Part of ICW strategy was to focus more on other promotions, then themselves. Promos aired on their television challenging the likes of Lawler, Jarrett, Dundee and Tojo Yamamoto to matches vs their top star Randy Savage. There was some legit animosity between ICW and other promotions in the area. This animosity, and a variety of other reasons, lead to a legit fight between Randy Savage and Bill Dundee outside a gym one day. I’ll let you look that one up on your own. By late 83, ICW was slowing down, ultimately closing for good in 1984. Angelo Poffo was then on the hunt, looking for places for his boys Randy and Lanny to work. Let’s pause the story here.
By mid to late 1983, Bill Watts mid south wrestling had hit a lull period. Mid South had been a big man promotion and the matches were starting to become repetitive and dull. The wrestlers there were great, but the main event picture typically featured the same thing, and the fans were looking for a change. Ernie Ladd was the Booker, but Watts was looking for a change. Watts reached out to Ole Anderson in Georgia to work out a deal. Some Georgia wrestlers starting appearing on Mid south television, including the road Warriors. It was also around this time, that Lanny Poffo rolled in. Poffo was being pushed for a nice baby face run. Also during this time, Randy Savage’s name started poppin up during broadcasts. There was even a Randy Savage hype video! It looked as tho Savage was coming to mid south. Around this exact same time, Watts moved on from Ole and started discussions with Jerry Jarrett about a talent exchange. They ultimately reached an agreement, and 3 notable Memphis talents were on their way to Mid South. Jim Cornette, Bobby Eaton and Dennis Coundry. The Midnight express was born. Along with the Midnight, Mid South brought in a new Booker to replace Ernie Ladd - Bill Dundee. Dundee and the Midnight express helped mid south get over the hump, and ticket sales increased. However, with this new regime in charge, talk of Randy Savage comin into mid south stopped.
The Poffo’s and Savage ultimately went to Memphis. Savage and Lawler engaged in a fun fued, while the brothers worked some great matches with the rock and roll express.
In 1985, Jimmy Hart made his way to the WWF. Hart had spent the last 7 years working in Memphis. When he was up there, he told WWF officials, that the best wrestler in the world worked in Memphis. Before you knew it, Savage was in the WWF.
It appears Bill Dundee moving to book Mid South is what stopped Savage was joining his brother in the promotion. Had Savage moved to Mid South, I’m certain the wrestling landscape of the 80’s dramatically changes. Savage doesn’t go to the WWF in 85. He becomes the biggest star of Mid South, main events the Superdome a time or two and perhaps keeps Mid South from folding up. I would almost guarantee he works a number of matches vs Ric Flair in the mid 80’s, and imagine how good those would be. Assuming Mid South does fold up in 86, he probably goes to the WWF, but he would be under contract with Crocket too, so he could have ended up on Crockets promotion by the end of the 80’s.
What are your thoughts on this potential what if?
