"Memphis Heat" Documentary Sizzles
Posted: Dec 15th 2011 By: CMBurnham
Growing up in Tennessee, there was always an allure surrounding Memphis Wrestling. Memphis Heat: The True Story of Memphis Wrasslin' captures some of the allure in a fantastic documentary.
Released earlier this year by Off the Top Rope Productions, the film wastes no time in setting the tone.
"They don't even know what heat is today here man," explains Bill Dundee at the very beginning regarding current wrestlers experiencing heel heat. "They don't walk outside, and they have flattened your four tires and flung a brick through your window. They don't know what heat is. They don't try to cut you with a knife. I've been cut twice with a knife ... heat is when they don't like you for what you do to your opponent."
Directed by Chad Schaffler, the documentary begins with describing professional wrestling's roots within the carnival circuit. Several wrestling legends, including Len Rossi, Billy Wicks and the late Sputnik Monroe, detail the early beginnings of the sport.
Photos from Ron Hall's Sputnik, Masked Men, and Midgets: The Early Days of Memphis Wrestling, and classic Memphis Wrestling footage are interspersed throughout the film.
The headquarters of Memphis Wrestling, also referred to as the Tennessee territory, was actually located in Nashville. Nick Gulas and Roy Welch were the promoters at the time. Christine Jarrett started working for Gulas and Welch as a ticket seller. Her son, Jerry Jarrett, began promoting spot shows at the age of 14.
The Tennessee territory had a reputation of low payoffs for wrestlers, especially when it came to Nick Gulas.
"I have literally seen him pay everybody forty dollars, and then come back and look at it and see how much profit he had left," Jarrett describes in the film. "And then take ten dollars off of the boys' pay. I'd say, 'Nick, hell it cost us fifty dollars to get there.' He said, 'Well, it ain't my fault. They should have drawn more.'"
Jackie Fargo and the infamous Fargo strut are also highlighted in the film. One individual who idolized Jackie Fargo was a young Jerry Lawler. Lawler sat under the learning tree of Fargo and later became synonymous with Memphis Wrestling. Considering WWE has never released a Jerry Lawler retrospective DVD, Memphis Heat contains a lot of early archival footage of Lawler in action most newer fans have likely never seen.
The travel was grueling to say the least. As depicted in the documentary, the weekly travel schedule was:
Monday -- Memphis, Tenn.
Tuesday -- Louisville, Ky.
Wednesday -- Evansville, Ind.
Thursday -- Jackson, Tenn.
Friday -- Tupelo, Miss.
Saturday morning -- Memphis, Tenn. TV taping
Saturday night -- Nashville, Tenn.
Sunday afternoon -- spot show
Jerry Jarrett's split from Gulas is also well documented in the film. Once Jarrett was able to get wrestling on WMC-TV 5 in Memphis, the ratings and attendance soared, cementing Jarrett's company as the victor.
Several matches are highlighted including the Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl and the Empty Arena match between Terry Funk and Lawler. The documentary rounds out with detailing Andy Kaufman's involvement in the organization and Jimmy Hart's departure for the WWF.
The DVD extras include several interview outtakes, studio wrestling highlights, Mid-South Coliseum highlights, and the Mario Galento incident.
Long-time Memphis Wrestling mainstays from the era are interviewed for the documentary including Monroe and Guy Coffey shortly before their passing.
Unfortunately, most of the early Memphis Wrestling master tapes were destroyed, taped over or have simply vanished. Most of what remains is scattered among many individuals. Furthermore, who exactly legally owns the distribution rights is a puzzle and story unto itself. As a result, what footage remains is of lower quality such as tape dubs. A great deal of Memphis Wrestling has found its way onto YouTube and other video sharing websites as well.
Therefore, I highly recommend Memphis Heat: The True Story of Memphis Wrasslin' to newer fans wanting to learn about the mystique of Memphis Wrestling as well as fans who want to revisit a bygone era.
In retrospect, the Tennessee territory was a place where angles and gimmicks would go over that would not be able to be successful in any other territory. The territory was also a place where the proverbial who's who received an early break such as The Rock as Flex Kavana, The Undertaker as the Master of Pain, Sting, and Jim Cornette just to name a few.
Is there a way to pinpoint what made Memphis Wrestling a success? I will let Jerry Lawler have the last word.
"So many pieces of the puzzle all came together at once maybe just by coincidence, but it happened. And it created such a ball that started rolling, and it was almost impossible to stop."
Supplemental Information
Upcoming Events
- NAW · Sep 12 5:00pm · Muldrow
- WAH · Sep 13 3:00pm · Tulsa
- ASP · Sep 17 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 18 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 19 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- UWE · Sep 19 6:00pm · Tahlequah
- EPW · Sep 19 6:00pm · Broken Arrow
- TexPro · Sep 19 7:00pm · Ardmore
- ASP · Sep 20 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 21 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 22 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 23 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 24 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- MWF · Sep 24 7:00pm · Bartlesville
- ASP · Sep 25 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- UWO · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- MidAW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Antlers
- EPW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- MWF · Sep 25 8:00pm · Shawnee
- ASP · Sep 26 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- MidAW · Sep 26 5:00pm · Antlers
- LA · Sep 26 5:00pm · Chickasha
- RWE · Sep 26 6:00pm · Spencer
- MWF · Sep 26 8:00pm · Lawton
- ASP · Sep 27 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- MidAW · Oct 3 2:00pm · Idabel
- WFC · Oct 3 7:00pm · Broken Arrow
- UWO · Oct 9 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- NAW · Oct 10 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- BCW · Oct 10 7:00pm · Guthrie
- WAH · Oct 11 3:00pm · Tulsa
- ASP · Sep 17 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 18 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 19 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 20 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 21 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 22 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 23 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 24 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 25 4:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 26 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · Sep 27 12:30pm · Oklahoma City
- BCW · Oct 10 7:00pm · Guthrie
- EPW · Sep 19 6:00pm · Broken Arrow
- EPW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- LA · Sep 26 5:00pm · Chickasha
- MidAW · Sep 25 7:00pm · Antlers
- MidAW · Sep 26 5:00pm · Antlers
- MidAW · Oct 3 2:00pm · Idabel
- MWF · Sep 24 7:00pm · Bartlesville
- MWF · Sep 25 8:00pm · Shawnee
- MWF · Sep 26 8:00pm · Lawton
- NAW · Sep 12 5:00pm · Muldrow
- NAW · Oct 10 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- RWE · Sep 26 6:00pm · Spencer
- TexPro · Sep 19 7:00pm · Ardmore
- UWE · Sep 19 6:00pm · Tahlequah
- UWO · Sep 25 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- UWO · Oct 9 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- WAH · Sep 13 3:00pm · Tulsa
- WAH · Oct 11 3:00pm · Tulsa
- WFC · Oct 3 7:00pm · Broken Arrow
Spotlight in History
- 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
- 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
- 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
- 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12
- 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
- 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
- Summer Thunder Sep 11th Today!
- Vic Nichols Sep 11th Today!
- Bash Sep 12th
- Adrian Dell Sep 12th
- N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
- Danni Bee Sep 12th
- Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
- Montego Seeka Sep 12th
- Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
- Animal Sep 12th
- American Anarchy Sep 12th
- K. P. Moore Sep 13th
- Poder Oriental Sep 13th
- Bobby Starr Sep 13th
- Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
- Angelina Love Sep 13th
- Bernie D Sep 14th
- Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
- Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
- Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
- Waddy Young Sep 14th
- L. C. Green Sep 15th
- Korvin Sage Sep 15th
- Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
- Daniel King Sep 15th
- Haru Sonada Sep 16th
- Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
- Jake Swayze Sep 17th
- Dick Brower Sep 17th
- Rex Mori Sep 17th
- Jim Cornette Sep 17th
- Bill Irwin Sep 17th
- Titan Yin Sep 18th
- Angel Reed Sep 18th
- Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
- Billy Robinson Sep 18th
- Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
- Adam Asher Sep 19th
- Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
- Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
- Joey Stixx Sep 20th
- Chuck Singer Sep 20th
- Greg Valentine Sep 20th
- Bishop Simon Sep 20th
- Pepper Martin Sep 20th
- Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
- Ethan Page Sep 20th
- Boz Sep 20th
- Justin Lee Sep 20th
- Connor Jones Sep 21st
- Ricky Morton Sep 21st
- Jack Brisco Sep 21st
- Satine Sep 22nd
- Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
- Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
- Doug Somers Sep 22nd
- Harley D Sep 22nd
- Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
- O'Malley Sep 23rd
- Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
- Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
- John J. Bishop Sep 24th
- Connor Crunk Sep 24th
- Jason Bruce Sep 24th
- Kai Fayden Sep 24th
- Len Rossi Sep 24th
- Joe Jones Sep 24th
Current Champions
Unified Wrestling of Oklahoma
Heavyweight Champion
Malik Mayfield
- Women's Champion: Shylynn
- Dojo Division Champion: Cole Lung