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Mid-South Wrestling 1979–1986 Universal Wrestling Federation 1986–1987 Notes † ^ Indicates they are deceased. ‡ ^ Indicates they died while they were employed with the Universal Wrestling Federation. CWA ^ Indicates they were part of a talent exchange with Continental Wrestling Association.
Birth Name:Ring Name (s):Tenure:Chris Adams1984–1987Kerry Von Erich1981 1983–1985Mike Von Erich1984Robert Alexander †Ben Alexander1980 1985- The Rise and Fall of Mid-South Wrestling Association
- "Cowboy" Bill Watts
- Jim Ross in Mid-South
- Standout Mid-South Wrestling Stars
- The Junkyard Dog
- The Midnight Express
- From Mid-South Wrestling to The Universal Wrestling Federation
- The Demise of Mid-South Wrestling and The Universal Wrestling Federation
Much like other promotions in that part of the country, Mid-South Wrestling brought a hard-hitting style of wrestling to its fans. Led by the example of the irascible "Cowboy" Bill Watts, the ground and pound ethic of the roster was not only a key to its success but a keystone to its legacy. Some have described it as a "wrestling boot camp," where ...
Born in 1939, William Watts Jr. grew up in the dust-blown state of Oklahoma around the horse ranches and cattle herds that would lead him to adopt his familiar nickname of "Cowboy." He took to wrestling early on and became a journeyman in the ’60s, traveling all across the United States, and out to Japan as he learned his craft. He was so over with...
Jim Ross initially held the job of referee for the first three years of his time at NWA Tri-State but became a member of the broadcast unit after Bill Watts took the company over and changed it to Mid-South Wrestling. Ross was soon promoted to the familiar play-by-play spot that would highlight his career in professional wrestling. Ross also took o...
Ted DiBiase had returned from a short-lived run in the WWF, just after Vince McMahon Jr. had taken over the promotion from his father. DiBiase went on to have a long run in Mid-South in both tag teamand singles action, and he was famous for winning matches after hitting his opponents with a "loaded" black glove he would brandish when the ref was lo...
Sylvester Ritter had started his wrestling career in Tennessee and then ventured to the cold north of Canadaand Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling, where he had made a bit of a name for himself as Big Daddy Ritter. It wasn’t until he came to the office of Bill Watts in Shreveport, Louisiana, that his professional wrestling career transcended to another ...
In 1983, Bill Watts started a talent exchange with Jerry Jarrett at the CWA. He took the amazing, established tag teamof the Robert Gibson and Ricky Morton (The Rock’ n’ Roll Express) and several other wrestlers, including a trio of talent that he would bring together as one of the most notable tag teams in wrestling history and give the R’n’R Expr...
In the late ’80s, Mid-South Wrestling underwent an attempt at a nationwide expansion when Bill Watts secured television time on the Superstation, TBS, after Ted Turner had a sour business dealing with Vince McMahonover the content that McMahon was supplying him. Watts was poised to take over the two-hour slot occupied by the WWF when Jim Crockett a...
After suffering financial losses, mounting near $500,000 from the attempted expansion, Bill Watts was forced to sell the UWF to Jim Crockett Promotions on April 9, 1987. Despite promises by Crockett to keep the promotion going, the UWF folded and was absorbed by his Mid-Atlantic Wrestling promotion just six months later. All of the UWF titles were ...
- Sting. In 1986, two guys from the Continental area called the Blade Runners popped up in the UWF. Rock would leave after a couple of months to become the Ultimate Warrior.
- Ted DiBiase. Before he was “the Million Dollar Man,” Ted DiBiase was one of Mid-South’s best talents. He began as a face before turning into a wicked heel as his “Rat Pack” of Jim Duggan and Matt Borne held multiple titles, including DiBiase as North American Champion.
- The Fabulous Freebirds. Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy were promising wrestlers when Watts paired them up with Buddy Roberts as a trio. Before long, the Fabulous Freebirds were dominating with some title wins and an epic feud with the Junkyard Dog.
- The Junkyard Dog. WWE’s Blu-ray history of Mid-South is upfront that the Junkyard Dog was the promotion’s biggest star but not its best wrestler. While bursting with charisma, JYD was a poor worker who had to be covered by booking and short matches.
People also ask
What happened to Mid-South Wrestling?
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When did the Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship end?
Why did Jim Crockett change mid-south to Universal Wrestling Federation?
The 1984 show drew 22,000 fans—an unimaginably large crowd for a regional territory show. In the mid-1980s, MSW began to expand nationally. [3] In 1985, longtime wrestling fan Ted Turner invited Watts to air MSW's weekly TV show on Turner's SuperStation TBS network.
- 1987
- Bixby, Oklahoma
- 1950s (NWA Tri-State), 1979 (Mid-South), 1986 (UWF)
- Jim Crockett Promotions (1987)
The Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship was the major singles title in the Mid-South Wrestling Association from 1979 until the promotion became the Universal Wrestling Federation in 1986. The title was retired then in favor of the UWF Heavyweight Championship.
Wrestler:Times:Date:Chuck Karbo1June 23, 19691August 15, 1969Chuck Karbo2October 6, 1969Danny Hodge2October 21, 1969- June 23, 1969
- Mid-South Wrestling Association
- Chuck Karbo
Mid South Wrestling: With Boyd Pierce, Bill Watts, Jim Duggan, Jim Ross. Weekly episodic shows from one of the most successful wrestling territories in the 1980s.
Mid-South North American Champ Mr. Wrestling II beat Ernie Ladd via DQ. Mid-South Louisiana Tag Champs Bill Watts & Buck Robley beat The Assassin & The Angel in a "steel cage" match to win the Mid-South U.S. Tag Title. Return to top of page Superdome Extravaganza 8/80 August 2, 1980 in New Orleans, LA The Superdome drawing 28,000 ($183,000)
