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Former USWA Champion The Snowman Eddie Crawford passes away

Former USWA Champion The Snowman Eddie Crawford passes away

Posted: Sep 30th 2021 By: Mike Johnson - PWInsider.com

PWInsider.com is sad to report the passing of Eddie Crawford, professionally known to Memphis Wrestling and Mid-South Wrestling fans as The Snowman. Crawford passed away earlier today, days after word began circulating that he had suffered a heart attack.

Trained by Jerry Lawler and Koko Ware, Crawford, as Snowman first debuted for Memphis Wrestling when it was running under the CWA name in 1984, wrestling as Snowman and Dr. Detroit, putting over more prominent talents. The Snowman moniker was said to have been a nickname given to him by O. V. Wright, a blues singer.

As Snowman, Crawford moved over to Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling in 1985, where he received an immediate push as a babyface as one of Watts' attempts to replace The Junkyard Dog, who had jumped without notice to the WWF. Snowman was almost immediately put over Jake Roberts, becoming the promotion's TV Champion. He worked with veteran heels like Dutch Mantel, Tom Prichard, Len Denton and Eddie Gilbert with the promotion did everything they could to try and get his push to click, even having Muhammad Ali in his corner against Roberts.

In one angle, Snowman tried to rescue Frankie Lane from Mantel and Prichard, who were using Mantel's whip on him, leading to Snowman taking a big beating. No matter what the promotion did, it didn't click, but honestly, no one Watts attempted after JYD truly did. Snowman eventually lost the title to Mantel and was soon gone, his run lasting all of four months.

Crawford began doing local interviews claiming racism against him on the part of Memphis promoters, including Jerry Lawler and Jerry Jarrett. Grabbing their attention, he was brought back to the CWA under a mask as The Killer, now a babyface, teaming with Lawler in a feud against Bam Bam Bigelow and Larry Sharpe. He disappeared in late 1986 and returned a year later, once again as The Snowman, wrestling against Manny Fernandez and others before again disappearing.

Snowman returned to the now-USWA in Memphis in 1990, getting the biggest push of his career, winning the Unified title from Lawler in June 1990 as part of an angle that would never, ever make television today, even in professional wrestling. On USWA TV (as seen above), Lawler, who was a heel, was confronted by Snowman, who came out on WMC-TV Channel 5. At the time, to sell the situation as a shoot, matchmaker Eddie Marlin ran out and told Snowman he couldn’t walk out and do whatever he wanted on live television. He told Snowman he couldn’t just walk in and get a title match but could work his way up the card. Security tried to remove Snowman, who remarked that everyone in the company would wake up to find there was a "Black King" in Memphis.

Snowman stated he was buying a ticket for the Mid-South Coliseum that Monday. Flustered, Lawler tried to go back to his “planned” promo, but was “off” to give the idea that something unplanned just went down in the studio. If you watch the footage, the segment is all over the place from a production standpoint as well, to sort of give the impression that even behind the scenes, they were reacting as if something went wrong.

Snowman showed up that Monday at the Mid-South Coliseum, where he again got into a heated argument with Marlin before being forced out of the building.

The story was that Snowman was invited to come back to Memphis TV, but instead of coming out for a segment, he sat in the crowd fuming the entire show. Marin finally said he wanted to give Snowman a chance to air his problems out publicly. He began making allegations that the promotion was racist, which brought out King Cobra, who denied that for the 15 years he had been with the promotion, he had never dealt with racism from the company but had dealt with racist people in Tennessee. The live crowd booed Cobra for this, and he responded they weren’t in professional wrestling and they wouldn’t know his experiences. Snowman then verbally jabbed by saying he was only still with the company because management knew he wasn’t good enough to be the champion.

Lawler, finally having enough, walked out, with Cobra, his long-time rival, finally throwing his hands up at the entire situation and walking out. Lawler challenged Snowman to come take the USWA title from him at the following Monday’s event in Memphis- at the time Memphis ran the Mid-South Coliseum every Monday and this would be years before Monday Night Raw forced that tradition to change. Marlin wasn’t happy with anyone but finally sanctioned the match with Snowman slapping Lawler and being dragged out of the studio. The next Monday, Snowman won the title.

From that point, he feuded with Lawler, then Brian Lee and then the Bruise Brothers, teaming with Jeff Jarrett. Allegedly unhappy with his pay (the story was that what he was promised he would be paid and what he received were far apart) and status on the cards (Lawler was still the main eventer, even though Snowman was the champion), he walked out of the promotion with the belt, the last time that belt was used in pro wrestling.

On television, the attempt to bury him after the walkout was so harsh that Eddie Marlin went on TV, announced Snowman had no showed a half dozen times, so he was stripped of the title. He later claimed Snowman had attempted to pawn the title belt for drugs. Yes, really. On live television. I know the belt was eventually recovered and now resides in a private collection. The promotion ran a tournament, using the AWA World Championship belt Lawler had won from Curt Hennig and never returned to Verne Gagne, ironically enough, due to a dispute over pay, and that was the title used going forward by the promotion.

Outside of the ring, Crawford was a police officer in Collierville, TN and taught bible studies as well.

PWInsider.com expresses our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Eddie Crawford.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
  • 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

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  • 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
  • 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
  • 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
  • 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
  • 09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
  • 09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
  • 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
  • 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
  • 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
  • 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
  • 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
  • 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-12
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