Oklafan.com v5 Beta > Interviews > Jim Cornette reflects on pro wrestling's legacy in Richmond

Jim Cornette reflects on pro wrestling's legacy in Richmond

Posted: May 21st 2019 By: Wes McElroy

Longtime wrestling broadcaster, manager and promoter Jim Cornette visited Richmond this week and took a stroll down memory lane.

Question: Welcome back to Richmond. Do you have a memorable match from a night when wrestling was here?

Answer: There are so many great matches with the Midnight Express and the Rock N’ Roll Express. One of the greatest matches we ever had was a double main event: Lex Luger vs Ric Flair for the NWA World Title and The Midnight Express against The Horseman: Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson, along with JJ Dillon. It was 1988, we had to turn people away from the Richmond Coliseum because we sold out — some 12,000 people. They were hanging off the rafters. The Horsemen at the time were very unpopular. Now they’re legends. At the time, the fans hated them and the fans hated [The Midnight Express], but we became the popular figures that fans got behind in our fight with The Horsemen and it
just made a great night. That was in September of 1988.

Question: As wresting rose in popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, there were so many road shows. Who was the best entertainer, whether the match was on television or not?

Answer: So many were true pros, but I think Ric Flair. He’s become a pop culture icon. The Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas region had him first, but now he’s worldwide. Ric was an amazing physical specimen. He had the pulse rate of a marathon runner at 240 pounds. He worked out constantly, and
he would go in that ring every night and leave it all there for a half-hour, 45 minutes, or even an hour. It didn’t matter if it was on television of if there were 12,000 in the Richmond Coliseum or 3,000 in the Roanoke Civic Center, he was on every night and he kept that up every night.

Question: You were part of so many aspects of wrestling, including behind the scenes. How did wrestling find its space the pop culture in the 1970s and 1980s when there was no social media or YouTube?

Answer: The thing was we had great television exposure back then because we had local broadcasts in every television market in Virginia, and we had TBS from Atlanta that was national on Saturday and Sunday nights. That together with the constant live touring, because in those days you had live wrestling every month in Richmond, every month in Norfolk, and several times a year at the Hampton Coliseum and all the other markets like Roanoke, Charlotte, and Greensboro. We were, literally, like rock stars touring behind a record, but every night, 365 days a year. That kept the fans interested and kept them coming to live shows and it developed that following and that bond.

Question: Who were your favorite wrestlers to travel with on the road?

Answer: You know I always rode with the Midnight Express, they were great. Ric Flair is not only hilarious to ride in a car with, but you can get in trouble because you will spend a lot of money and do things that still might be illegal in several states [laughs]. His opening order when he’d walk into a bar, just to break the ice, was a tray of shots — not just a shot but a tray, which he’d end up passing out.
There was Roddy Piper; he was an insane guy and a great guy to have fun with. It was like a rock group touring without the bus, because you had individual cars but yeah, the women, the notoriety,
the glory and the fame, and all that stuff, well, there were some interesting things that occurred on the road back then.

Wes McElroy hosts a daily sports talk show weekdays from 3
to 6 p.m. on 910.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Title

Week of Sun 04-19 to Sat: 04-25

04-19 1987 Bubba Rogers def. One Man Gang for the UWF Heavyweight Title
04-19 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Luchadore & The Canadian Red Devil) def. La M (El Choppo & Jesus Rodriguez) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
04-19 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. Nathan Sensation for the IZW Tag Team Titles
04-19 2013 Bree Ann def. Barbi Hayden for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
04-19 2014 Aaron Anders def. Michael Wolf for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
04-19 2014 Jake O'Brien def. Brian Breaker for the OWA Heavyweight Title
04-19 2014 Tim Rockwell def. Jon Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
04-19 2014 Randy Price def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
04-19 2014 Miss Diss Lexia def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
04-19 2014 Erica def. Miss Diss Lexia for the IZW Queens Title
04-19 2014 Brandon Groom def. Warhammer for the BPPW Heavyweight Title
04-19 2024 Killa Kate became the TexPro Rose Champion
04-19 2024 Kari Wright def. Tommy Prince for the TexPro Dynasty Title
04-19 2024 K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) def. Rock-N-Rugged (Rook Tyler & Gabe Welder for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
04-19 2025 Rook Tyler def. Auzzy for the TexPro Dynasty Title
04-19 2025 Brandon Warhawk def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
04-19 2026 Gideon Vane became the WTW Open Promotions Champion
04-20 1980 Toru Tanaka def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
04-20 2013 The Canadian Red Devil became the OWA Heavyweight Champion
04-20 2013 Daemon Storm def. Justin Dynamic for the UWE United States Title
04-20 2018 Jack Swagger def. MVP for the IWR Heavyweight Title
04-20 2019 B. M. F. (Kareem Sadat & Maniac Mike) became the EmpCW Tag Team Champions
04-20 2019 Double D became the EmpCW Heavyweight Champion
04-20 2024 Malachi & Ozzy Hendrix def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
04-20 2024 Kevin James Sanchez def. Montego Seeka for the EPW Heavyweight Title
04-21 1967 The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
04-21 1979 Mike George def. Jerry Stubbs for the TSW Louisiana Title
04-21 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
04-21 2007 Kareem Sadat def. K-Rob for the AACW Hardcore Title
04-21 2007 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. The Re-Gex (Seth Shai & Mace) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
04-21 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Spyder for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
04-21 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
04-21 2018 The Untamed (Rex Andrews & Ryan Davidson) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
04-21 2023 Leo Fox def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE Apex Title
04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Texas Title
04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Texas Title
04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
04-22 1940 Jesse James def. Danny McShain for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title
04-22 1955 Ricki Starr def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
04-22 1968 The Spoilers (Spoiler #1 & Spoiler #2/Smasher Sloan) def. Fritz Von Erich & Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
04-22 1980 Terry Gordy def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW Louisiana Title
04-22 1985 The Great Kabuki became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
04-22 2006 Michael York def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Title
04-22 2016 Brock Landers def. Mascara La Parka for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
04-22 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
04-22 2017 Double D def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
04-22 2017 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the ComPro Ladies Title
04-22 2018 Chaz Sharpe became the ASP Inter-County Champion
04-22 2018 Johnny Kove & Tristan Thorne became the ASP Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
04-22 2018 Damon Windsor def. Chandler Hopkins for the IWR Revolutionary Title
04-22 2022 Drake Gallows & Fester Cluck def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
04-22 2022 Duncan Kincaid became the RDW Iron Man Champion
04-22 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
04-22 2023 Devion Black def. Adrian Vega for the EPW All-American Title
04-22 2023 Logan Knight def. Gemini [2nd] for the EPW Heavyweight Title
04-23 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
04-23 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
04-23 1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
04-23 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
04-23 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
04-23 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
04-23 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
04-23 2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
04-23 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
04-23 2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
04-23 2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Title
04-24 1999 The Casualties of War (Grunt & Shrapnel) def. The East-West Express (J. J. Mustang & Joey Steiner) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
04-24 1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
04-24 2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
04-24 2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Title
04-24 2015 Rick Russo & Largus RagnaBrok became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
04-24 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Brandon Warhawk for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
04-25 1969 Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres def. Karl Von Stroheim & Treach Phillips for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
04-25 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Title
04-25 2003 Ichiban [1st] became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
04-25 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
04-25 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Title
04-25 2008 Ky-Ote became the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
04-25 2008 Les Mayne became the 3DW Texoma Champion
04-25 2008 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
04-25 2008 Al Farat became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
04-25 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
04-25 2008 Joshua Smith def. Al Farat for the 3DW Violent Division Title
04-25 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Title
04-25 2010 David Kyzer became the SWCW All-American Champion
04-25 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Red for the ASP All Time Title
04-25 2021 Maui Mike & Malik Mayfield became the ASP Tag Team Champions

04-23

Moose Apr 23rd Today!
Tony Atlas Apr 23rd Today!
Blade [2nd] Apr 23rd Today!
Terry Gordy Apr 23rd Today!
Ethan Price Apr 24th
Lou Thesz Apr 24th
Lance Von Erich Apr 24th
Bobby Joe Bristow Apr 25th
Walker Stewart Apr 25th
Zack Zilla Apr 25th
Max Mercer Apr 25th
Brett Stopp Apr 25th
Crash Davis Apr 25th
Eric Roberts Apr 25th
Carl Fergie Apr 25th
Justin Dynamic Apr 26th
Havoc Apr 26th
Karl Kox Apr 26th
Yasu Fuji Apr 27th
Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
Siva Afi Apr 28th
Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
Sunshine Apr 29th
Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
Prince Maivia May 1st
Big Bossman May 2nd
Kari Wright May 2nd
Don Fields May 2nd
Americos May 2nd
Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
Barrett Brown May 2nd
Johnny Humble May 3rd
Lily McKenzie May 3rd
Lester Welch May 3rd
Bull Schmitt May 4th
Jay Hazzard May 4th
Dory Funk May 4th
El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
Malik Mayfield May 4th
Bill Watts May 5th
El Matador Dos May 5th
El Gallardo May 5th
Olivier Vegos May 5th
Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
Zane Morris May 5th
Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
Princess Victoria May 5th
Maria Brigitte May 5th
Claire Watson May 6th

1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Title

More Look Back In History

Card Results

Current Champions

Unified Wrestling of Oklahoma

Dojo Division Champion
Dale Reeves

Heavyweight Champion: Colton Kinnamon
Women's Champion: Shylynn