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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.”

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Spotlight in History

1999 The Casualties of War (Grunt & Shrapnel) def. The East-West Express (J. J. Mustang & Joey Steiner) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Title
2015 Rick Russo & Largus RagnaBrok became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Brandon Warhawk for the WAH Hunger Dojo 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

04-24

Ethan Price Apr 24th Today!
Lou Thesz Apr 24th Today!
Lance Von Erich Apr 24th Today!
Max Mercer Apr 25th
Brett Stopp Apr 25th
Crash Davis Apr 25th
Zack Zilla Apr 25th
Bobby Joe Bristow Apr 25th
Carl Fergie Apr 25th
Eric Roberts Apr 25th
Walker Stewart Apr 25th
Justin Dynamic Apr 26th
Havoc Apr 26th
Karl Kox Apr 26th
Yasu Fuji Apr 27th
Siva Afi Apr 28th
Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
Sunshine Apr 29th
Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
Prince Maivia May 1st
Big Bossman May 2nd
Don Fields May 2nd
Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
Americos May 2nd
Barrett Brown May 2nd
Kari Wright May 2nd
Johnny Humble May 3rd
Lily McKenzie May 3rd
Lester Welch May 3rd
Jay Hazzard May 4th
Dory Funk May 4th
Bull Schmitt May 4th
El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
Malik Mayfield May 4th
Olivier Vegos May 5th
Bill Watts May 5th
Zane Morris May 5th
El Gallardo May 5th
El Matador Dos May 5th
Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
Maria Brigitte May 5th
Princess Victoria May 5th
Claire Watson May 6th
Hercules May 7th

1999 The Casualties of War (Grunt & Shrapnel) def. The East-West Express (J. J. Mustang & Joey Steiner) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Title
2015 Rick Russo & Largus RagnaBrok became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Brandon Warhawk for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

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