Oklafan.com v5 Beta > News > The Rock ’n’ Roll Express rides through Columbia one more time

Home
News

The Rock ’n’ Roll Express rides through Columbia one more time

Posted: Oct 7th 2017 By: Chris Dearing

“Rock and Roll!”

“Rock and Roll!”

“Rock and Roll!”

The thunderous chant was a familiar sound coming from inside The Township Auditorium back in the 1980s whenever the Rock-n-Roll Express would roll through Columbia. It didn’t matter if they were facing the hated Russians, Midnight Express, or Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard in the
wrestling ring, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson were arguably the most popular tag team in the history of the NWA.

Fans in Columbia have another opportunity to cheer their heroes this Sunday when the Rock ’n’ Roll Express return to Columbia for the first time in more than a decade. Morton and Gibson are set to face the GymNasty Boys (White Mike and Timmy Lou Retton) this Sunday at Spring Valley High School as part of Palmetto Championship Wrestling’s “Showdown at The Valley 2”.

“Oh, the memories I have of Columbia and The Township,” Morton said. “That was the heyday for us. If you didn’t buy your ticket early back in those days, you weren’t getting in the building. When everybody would get to chanting ‘Rock and Roll,’ it’s a feeling that people will never understand.”

Morton, 61, and Gibson, 59, are on the downside of their career, but don’t call them a nostalgia act just yet.

“I might be 61 years old but I can still go,” Morton said. “I think people will be surprised if they come and see for themselves. And you never know. We are getting up in age and this might be the last time Columbia gets to see us in the ring together.”

The Rock ’n’ Express was inducted in the WWE Hall Fame on March 31. The eight-time National Wrestling Alliance world tag team champions found most of their success touring the Southern states back when wrestling existed as different territories. They never had much success in the WWE itself, but to be included in the Hall of Fame was a special moment for Morton and Gibson.

“You almost can’t have a Hall of Fame without the Rock ’n’ Roll Express,” Gibson said. “But to be honest with you, when we got the phone call, I cried. To be recognized by an organization where we didn’t have most of our success is just an awesome feeling.”

Shane Dorr, the owner of PCW, said being able to bring in the Rock ’n’ Roll Express is going to be something special.

“This is a dream come true,” Dorr said. “You ask any of the guys or the fans of this area. These guys are almost like gods in the sport of professional wrestling. Being a long- time fan myself, this is an honor to bring them in. They’re closer to the end of their careers than the beginning, so to get them together it brings the nostalgia back to Columbia.”

Dorr didn’t know whether Morton or Gibson would be interested in attending the show. Dorr has been involved in wrestling only a brief period of time but Ethan Case, the head trainer for PCW and another headliner on the show, is a 13-year veteran that’s grown close to Morton over the years. That relationship allowed Dorr the opportunity to extend the offer.

Morton and Gibson quickly accepted, and Sunday will give fans a chance to get up close and personal with the duo that 16-time world champion Ric Flair used to say had fans who consisted of “teenyboppers in their training bras.”

“The fans are what make this special,” Morton said. “They still remember us back in our heyday and we still remember them. We made an appearance in Raleigh a few weeks ago and saw several people that used to fill the Dorton Arena. We hope our fans from Columbia do the same thing on Sunday.”

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title

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

09-08

Great Kabuki Sep 8th Today!
Wendi Richter Sep 8th Today!
Silas Young Sep 8th Today!
Rebel [2nd] Sep 8th Today!
Vincent Cross Sep 8th Today!
Mike Clancy Sep 9th
Rancid Sep 9th
Owen Sep 10th
Vivian St. John Sep 10th
Les Mayne Sep 10th
Kool Ade Sep 10th
Mr. Wrestling II Sep 10th
Trevor Murdoch I Sep 10th
Summer Thunder Sep 11th
Vic Nichols Sep 11th
N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
Bash Sep 12th
Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
Danni Bee Sep 12th
Montego Seeka Sep 12th
Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
Animal Sep 12th
American Anarchy Sep 12th
Adrian Dell Sep 12th
K. P. Moore Sep 13th
Angelina Love Sep 13th
Poder Oriental Sep 13th
Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
Bobby Starr Sep 13th
Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
Waddy Young Sep 14th
Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
Bernie D Sep 14th
Korvin Sage Sep 15th
Daniel King Sep 15th
Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
L. C. Green Sep 15th
Haru Sonada Sep 16th
Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
Jake Swayze Sep 17th
Rex Mori Sep 17th
Jim Cornette Sep 17th
Dick Brower Sep 17th
Bill Irwin Sep 17th
Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
Angel Reed Sep 18th
Billy Robinson Sep 18th
Titan Yin Sep 18th
Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
Adam Asher Sep 19th
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Boz 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
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Jack Brisco Sep 21st

1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title

More Look Back In History

Card Results

Current Champions

Bizarre Underground Wrestling

This Is Wrestling Champion
Mr. Nasty

No Pressure Champion: Duke Blanchard
918 Champion: Mr. Nasty

Oklafan.com v5 Beta