Jim Cornette on Norman Dooley, Weasel's World, and The Creation Of The Star Rating System

From Episode 440 of the Jim Cornette Experience
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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You can listen to Brian each week on the 6:05 Superpodcast at 605pod.com.

[@DillyDilly13]

Anyone else throw on Corny before bed? Just me? I click the Corny clips playlist and just let it go until I fall asleep.

[@actuallynotsteve]

As lame as it sounds I usually fall asleep to the Drive Thru or Experience, it's like 4 hours long and I'm out within 15-20min

[@kingkold]

Either corny or hack the movies.

[@gullyblanchard5750]

Nope not just you. Sometimes I'll play episodes where he goes into long discussions about the territories. Quite relaxing to sleep to

[@fatalsniper3413]

With the four sisters on thumb street to assist as well

[@ivanm.krsticevic1535]

I have a smartphone clip on my bicycle and do long distance cycling. It's not road safe to listen to headphones, so I just play them out loud of my speaker. These clips air as I ride on the side of country roads and on trails around New England, sometimes confused passerbys hear lol. Then on my bike ride home from night shifts before passing out, haha.

[@jaredm8780]

This is legit the content I come to this channel for. 5 star segment!

[@heisensaul5538]

It deserves more. Love this kind of stuff.

[@derekfuiten204]

@@heisensaul5538 the

[@derekfuiten204]

@@heisensaul5538.

[@richardl4579]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@oldmate5779]

@@heisensaul5538 If it was in the Tokyo Dome it could get 7 stars.

[@johnnygrind77]

I would love for Corny and Weasel to reconnect! You can tell he misses his friend. It would also be awesome to have him be a part of the show to share some stories. I hope he's okay.

[@trentongoodwin4048]

I came back to listen to details to see if I can find him.

[@TheExpo43]

@@trentongoodwin4048 i tried also i cant find nothing really jim finds him

[@fernandod3510]

Please God, Dooley emerge from the woodwork!

[@broodingstone958]

Looks like he lives in New Albany, IN. I have an exact address, but YT isn't letting me post it.

[@fernandod3510]

@@broodingstone958 probably best not to, send it to Jim cornette by email

[@TheMagnificentMongoSlade]

The Cult of Cornette needs to find Weasel Dooley. Locate that man so he can get his flowers.

[@YouDummy]

I found him. He still lives in New Albany

[@heisensaul5538]

Jim is at his best when he is talking about the stories he has about his time in the business. I love to hear him talk about the history of wrestling :)

[@Dave-rf1zj]

Great photo dude! Loved that album! And totally agree with you on Cornette's knowledge pertaining to pro wrestling history.

[@heisensaul5538]

@@Dave-rf1zj Thanks man

[@davidmurray6949]

Was telling my co worker today I don't care about 90's & today's wrestling I lived that, I wanna know the 80's & 70's. I want to know NWA secrets, why certain guys didn't get the world title, Billy Robinson, AWA stories about title situations, just more historic stuff because this modern day stuff just doesn't do it for me. I'm a Bret Hart fan and the way he took wrestling seriously I take every job I have because I refuse to let someone out work me or think they are better than me, so this modern day wrestling doesn't relate to my taking 🤷‍♂️

[@Dave-rf1zj]

@@davidmurray6949 i like certain modern pro wrestling....but definitely prefer territory era of 1970-1980's. In ring work with psychology mixed in.

[@heisensaul5538]

@@davidmurray6949 I tried to watch modern WWE and AEW and it just wasnt doing it for me. I really dislike the outlaw mud show bullshit too, so there isn't a ton of modern wrestling I want to watch.

[@sxedirtbag]

What if Norman is really Charlie from Starkville, Mississippi?

[@jeremygaitanpoke4303]

Babe wake up. Corny just posted about Weasel Dooley

[@gabrielpartida6245]

Hopefully one day we can get all of cornette’s files/notes/journals/etc digitized as like a Library of Cornette or something

[@kevinchihak2184]

I've been waiting for the Weasel Dooley Omnibus. :)

[@BrandonMobley614]

This was awesome. I've always been curious about Weasel. He seemed like an intelligent guy and a passionate wrestling fan. And his sense of humor was top notch. No wonder he and Jim got along so well.

[@MichaelSmith-fq6hz]

I found an obituary for Norman Dooley Sr, survived by a Norman Dooley Jr., in 2012. I wonder if Corny is wrong that his dad was dead because the age and location matches.

[@tlbradioreacts]

That's him.

[@moonswan7587]

@@tlbradioreacts perhaps but keep in mind how common the name Norman Dooley Jr is.

[@tremorchrist84]

Listened to this while cleaning at work. Much better than dealing with the public. Great stuff.

[@JohnSmith-nu9jz]

Recently found these podcasts and they're the best. Love putting them on and flaking out on the couch. Jim and Brian's encyclopedic knowledge is incredible and I'm not even that much of a wrestling fan. Just love hearing the stories.

[@waynegotke5502]

So, for decades and decades we were letting Dave Meltzer take credit for creating the star rating system when he in fact stole it from Norman Dooley. Now, whether Meltzer admitted this to Cornette or not, he clearly wanted everyone else to think he created it. Now, I'm sure Norman Dooley wrote with more integrity than Meltzer because quite frankly it's hard to fathom anyone writing with less integrity. That said, the story of Norman Dooley is a fascinating one.

[@cthulhupthagn5771]

Not just the stars but apparently the layout, font, and tone. And going by Unca Daves opinions, those might not be his either

[@hearTelus]

Im no fan of Meltzer but he stated yearsv ago that it was Weasel that started the star system.

[@-BigMike-]

Yeah Meltzer, ignorant as he is, has always admitted he took the star rating and layout all together from Weasels World of Wrestling.

[@treytreytrey]

I really don’t like Meltzer. With that being said he has always been open about Weasel’s influence on him. I have a hard time accusing Dave of stealing anything.

[@YogsenForfoth]

Meltzer is a hack.

[@veegob5287]

“It’s Hulk Hogan, & nobody broke a table.” 😂🤣😂

[@greenbasterd9425]

For heavens sake can somebody find Weasel Dooley. I had some great friends as well that I've grown apart from over the last 5-10 years. This story tugged on the 'ol heart strings.

[@fatalsniper3413]

Don’t ask for heaven’s sake. Do it yourself

[@EvaFull]

Just because of the historical facts alone, this has instantly become my all time favorite episode/clip of anything Cornette has done. The fact he can add more context because he was there in person makes it a piece of media that needs to be passed down to anyone interested in territory wrestling history.

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

I'm old enough to remember how important local television was, and it makes me a bit nostalgic. While watching a video on the very thing that made local television obsolete, lol.

[@LordRaptor]

I haven't even seen a picture of this Norman guy and I've only heard of him today, but already he sounds way more interesting and intelligent than Meltzer.

[@MilkmanC]

He subscribes to Meltzer apparently lol

[@henrygvidonas9573]

Jim re-tweeted pictures of Weasel from Howard Baum (HowardMBaum). It's true, he looked kind of/sort of like a young John Denver. Dressed exactly like Jim in his photographer outfit. Plaid shirt tucked in, jeans, tennis shoes, late-70s haircut (the plague of the mullet hadn't started to terrorise the Western world... yet).

[@sugartbube]

This is when Jim and Last are gold

[@MrTonyJ]

You can’t really understand the evolution of smart fans if you do not know about the past. Thanks Jim.

[@roosterfontaine]

Mandela effect, Corny! There was no Weasel Dooley in your current timeline. ;)

[@KHCdym93]

This is absolutely fascinating.

[@marcelmoreau2733]

weasley dooley learned to disappear from his father aka db cooper who was also the man on the grassy knoll.

[@bobmckinsey6169]

And Jesse Ventura will never own a cell phone.

[@0tt0z]

Brian needs to take a vacation and go to Jim's house and go through all the stuff Jim has that maybe he forgot he had and make a few shows of it.

[@YogsenForfoth]

Norman’s father passed away ten years ago, in 2012, and that is the only recent info I’ve ever been able to find about the guy.

[@joshuahofer4384]

The way Jim talks about Weezle, makes me want to meet Dooley. He seems like that one guy in the crowd that you want to meet.

[@adamlane6453]

Jim! Surely you've got the resources to get a private eye on the case! In this day and age, it's almost impossible for a person to truly disappear. He's out there somewhere, alive or passed, he can be found.

[@davidmurray6949]

Brian can Look him up, Steven P New 🤷‍♂️ I was close to googling dude myself 🤷‍♂️

[@MichaelSmith-fq6hz]

From what I understand, it’s not hard to find his contact info. Of course, I wouldn’t contact him out of respect for his privacy, but Jim could probably give it a try.

[@splintermouth]

More stories about Killer Corny and the unsung flunkies!!! This was me and my friends in the 90s!!!!

[@thegreattaylor]

They still have not done a second installment, I am wandering if Norman/Weasel asked him not to or something, I thought they would of done a couple of these already

[@mindlessdroid3630]

This is the first 6 Star you tube video.

[@georgemaranville3305]

Norm and I traded tapes for years in dirt sheet days. A few years ago I reached out to Meltzer who confirmed he was still subscribing. Now that you know that you can hate him but it was a few years ago. I can’t wait to listen to this.

[@nkotbfreak2983]

The Hangman( Neil Guay) is from Quebec and still alive,saw him in 2019 at the Butcher Vachon documentary premiere

[@teecakes]

Now I know who the guy is from the opening of the Drive Thru ("Who's got a good friend named Weasel Do~oley, Everyone Knows it's Corny!")

[@michaelmarino7391]

94 minutes of Cornette! This will make up for the shitty day I had! 😁

[@ryandoudney8]

Hope today is better mate!

[@michaelmarino7391]

Thanks! It did! 😁

[@oN3xShOtxkilL]

Watch Norman be found and him and Cornette talk about Modern day wrestling and he says “yeah I think the young bucks are really good”

[@thomashenley1903]

Like Heather Feather, I would like to know Dooley's whereabouts. I would love to here his side of the story if he's still with us.

[@CameronZimos]

Maybe he made a living off asmr and retired

[@fatalsniper3413]

Heather feather is in Idaho

[@proxydoesitwrong6331]

Godspeed on one day finding Weasel Dooley and the rest of his work. As a literature nut, I salivated at the opportunity to have read and analyzed June 2, 1981's review with the best 2 out of 3 falls match. But what made me crack a smile and really dig into the review Brian posted on his Twitter was how speedy Weasel was on the typewriter and how coherent and understandable a lot of the grammar was. You'd have thunk that Weasel was working as a court scribe instead of an accountant judging by his work! Edit: Mistaking this great match for an 8 man brawl. What on earth was I thinking?

[@broodingstone958]

Looks like he lives in New Albany, IN.

[@veegob5287]

Jim should do a coffee table book of his best/favorite pics & stories behind them. I just know it’s be fantastic!

[@geoffreyfranklin5890]

I remember in 1985 that the NWA wrestling show( Jim Crockett Promotions) aired on WCPO Channel 9 in Cincinnati ( then the CBS affiliate) ; and Channel 5 WLWT airing the WWF, which was probably appropriate since Channel 5 was and still is NBC, due to the Saturday Night's Main Event airings.

[@PNN_ParodyNewsNetwork]

When the Jim Cornette podcast is 10x more interesting then current wrestling, you know wrestling has a problem. The reason I think people love wrestling podcasts is because here they talk about real heat drama etc not the bad fake heat/drama/emotion on TV. As Jim says you have to "believe it" like it was a movie even if you know it is "fake".

[@ianresc3615]

I keep telling me this every time. A guy talking about stories from 30, 40 years ago is more entertaining than the current product. I haven't even been around to watch the territories, but I still find this more entertaining than AEW or WWE.

[@imwithstupid086]

Goes for most wrestling podcasts, interviews, what have you. I would rather listen to Cornette and Dutch talk about their experiences rather than experience the modern-day product myself.

[@botindeldiablo]

You know, outside wrestling this is kinda wholesome: just two friends sharing something for themself without thinking too much about what could be in the future. Like good friends working on a tabletop plot or gearheads just working in a personal custom hotrod.

[@WyattHolliday]

This is great. I’ve always heard the name come up over the last few years, but it’s awesome to finally get some in-depth info on Weasel Dooley.

[@guardianofchaosBD]

One of your best shows Corny!!!!!

[@divideby000]

I hope Norman's OK somewhere...

[@gayrambo4529]

That's a JR tweet right there.

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

Yeah, Norman OK is somewhere. Right over by OKC, IIRC.

[@dyzko1dave]

Is Gypsy Joe the same guy that New Jack beat the hell out of?

[@shariburger97]

Yea

[@NelsonRodriguez_]

this is a five ☆☆☆☆☆ rating for the Corney clips best thing all month at least since Lance Russell's letter to himself ☆☆☆☆.

[@joshuachappell5840]

Thank you Jim, Brian, and Travis. I now have a new google profile pic. Fabulous artwork.

[@jayeverington796]

Watch him find Weasel and it turns out he's a Young Bucks fan and a Trump supporter 😆

[@fayezfawzi3255]

This is an incredible find for sure, but honestly that story about Norman Dooley is honestly creepy. I mean, not only has he disappeared at some point between 95-99 (which means he was only in his 30s) and no one knows what has happened to him, but also tens of people that had his newsletter had all lost all their copies of it one way or another. Like, WTF... In all seriousness, I just hope that he simply moved to another town/country and lost interest in wrestling, as let us be honest, that is the best case scenario...

[@dadncaleb]

Great video, very impressed with how intricate these sheets were. Also, I truly hope you find Weasel Dooley. It would be awesome to have him on the show..

[@raoufswedek]

There is a clip about hocus pocus where Jim said he spoke to Norman but they quickly talk about something else.

[@Seldom-Seen]

Weaselllllllll where are youuuuuuu Come on the show Can you imagine another Jim Cornette 2 Cornys !

[@setadriftonfishandchips]

Loved this segment. More of Weasel's World please!

[@kingstonagainstcorruption2268]

Weasel Dooley is my hero!

[@RossMalagarie]

Metzer has Weasel buried in his basement to make sure no one knows he stole the Star system from him

[@LordPeaceFrog]

🤔Did Norman Dooley get plastic surgery and become Dave Meltzer.....eventually going mad from trying to keep Kayfabe!!🤪

[@michaelhauser6440]

I think Weasle Dooley is just a figment of Jim Cornettes imagination

[@tysontomko]

He was found and mentioned in another ep if you didn't know

[@florida_guy03]

These wrestling history segments are fabulous. Besides Aew reviews these type of segments are def my favorite. All the modern fans of the goofs should listen to these segments and learn what real wrestling actually is 😝.

[@fernandod3510]

We want Dooley! Part of me also wants him to come on and be giving Kenny Omega 9 stars on every match

[@aFrostySkywalker]

Please react to max casters diss track on the young bucks. if you thought you liked the Acclaimed before you will be astonished by how closely they sound just like Jim 😭

[@impalaman9707]

So Crockett was able to add Cincy to his territory when Jarrett couldn't. It would seem like Indianapolis would have been another opportunity for Jarrett to seize on when that city went dark. CWA was already doing business in Southern Indiana at the time, and was well established there. What was another few miles to grab the capitol when it was available?

[@TheDaveKrueger]

He's probably dead. In this age of social media he would easily be found and there's absolutely ZERO reason he wouldn't want to reconnect with Jim. Reddit sleuths solve all kinda of crimes and find people constantly, I guarantee some resourceful reddit user could find out exactly where he lives or if he's dead.

[@FortunateJuice]

Jim has said, on air, that he has since spoken to him.

[@vita4-life852]

Love this segment!

[@Hidden-Secrets]

This is amazing.

[@shawnoandrew]

Dale "TNT" Mann, the pride of Jamestown, Ky. Lanny Kean also lived there. I've got the Hogan/Lawler match on a VHS, forget what compilation it is. I think it's early Hogan stuff.

[@stevemash7505]

When we used to hang out at the Spectrum in Philly early in the afternoon before a WWWF show, I remember someone going around selling a legal letter size report of results from around the country. I can't remember if it was called Weasel's World, and sadly I didn't keep any.

[@terrysimpson3092]

Back in the 60s wrestling was on. Tv every sat. It was suported by rinks bargain city. They had like a tent city mall. They had like a 100 tent. In mount heathy ohio North of cincinnati. They had 2 guys dress as cowboys during breaks on tv

[@ChipandTucker]

Listening to Cornette is like a sound bath. I let go of my brain and allow Jim to paint colors and shapes directing into my brain.

[@LowkeyLean]

Norman sounds like a real cool guy

[@JC-wg4ce]

I use to get the observer and i use to go to AL ISSACS 'SCOOPS' in the early internet days.

[@mick16wtf]

This is so deeply interesting. Great segment

[@Irishgod1983]

Anytime I want to sleep I listen to Jim talk about old wrestling

[@KC-972]

There’s a bunch on eBay now

[@margaretseddon2230]

Gavin says : these two are so great together that they make it look easy!!!

[@antonlifer4449]

I love thst wrestling fans sent each other prlgrsms snd tapes and other things to each other. Reminds me of music fanatics like nyseld doin tape and cd trades and metal magazine ans poster swaps. I grew up during 90s wrestling and love Cornette from.his time in the WWF and Ive stopped watching wrestling after the attitude era but i constsntly listen to Cornette and love learninf about 70s n 80s wrestling.

[@Mifune41]

This is absolutely incredible.

[@horrorstew3577]

' JIm Cornette Publications ' Start it now Jim and sell your books on your website . There's enough material in the vault for a thousand reference and photo books ✌️ ... Plus there's enough stories in Jim's head to do a ongoing series of Autobiographies 😂 Also I'd love Corny to do some comics in the same way Tony Schiavone did ✊

[@Xxrocknrollgod]

I need Jim’s reaction to the TV14 news damnit

[@matthewhostetter8974]

Jim might be trending on Twitter soon. Ol Uncle Dave won't like the fact history doesn't see him as the inventor, creator, and only real authority of the 5-star rating. I'm sure Omega and the Hardly Boys will have some words to say too because they've never had a real 5-star match. Jim's backstories are always amazing as well as his knowledge of the past. People talk shit about Jim and his ideas, but he knows so much and has been involved in some major moments in wrestling. I also hope he can find Weasel out there somewhere.

[@whidoineedthis]

Norman was like Tommy from Martin. No Job, nobody knows what he really does lol

[@TheEnzyme94]

5 star ahould be the standard. The Wiesel Dooley scale!

[@bren7883]

The official king of pro wrestling content 🤘🏾🤘🏾

[@nocontextpoppapump]

I wonder if Weasel would give out 7 stars in the Tokyo Dome like Uncle Dave 🤔?

[@Yellowblam]

Dude’s an enigma.

[@aretnap3653]

I'd Like to "Thumb" Through Cornette's Favorite Pictures...that He Actually Took, Back In TheDay.

[@kbennett2587]

It would be awesome if Dooley is listening to this at his place full of wrestling stuff. I kinda like the idea of this guy. Just smiling looking at the wall of his place full of midnight express stuff.

[@RiverFunsies]

I think I found the Weasel! He lives in Indiana.

[@TomBurnetteMedia]

There’s a Norman Dooley in New Albany Indiana that’s in the phone book. I won’t publish but relatively easy to find. Hope you can talk to him.

[@garyrenard2213]

I found his info online as well. I'm not going to publish it either as Mr. Dooley has his right to privacy.

[@thomass789]

Yet both of you are here announcing where it can be found, and how easily it can be found, and then you follow that up and by laughably patting yourselves on the back respecting the man's privacy??? After you just guided any of the idiots who were not smart enough to find it, on WHERE AND HOW to find it? You two are ludicrous. Way to look out for the man's privacy. What a joke. 🙄🙄 Way to crack the case, super sleuths. My 7 year old nephew could find the info you found, yet you come here and announce it. Whatever.

[@jeagler78]

I remember Lawler and funk, funk kept telling Lawler he was going to take his eye out, an eye for an eye is what funk kept telling him, #classic

[@007ace8]

I would love ❤️ for you guys to call weasel up and ask him to talk about this specific topic. I bet the old Dave will come thru in flying Color’s and you guys can end the call by hanging up on him when he wants to talk about twinkle toes?!

[@fuscinula]

I love it when Cornette casually drops the Bulldog line: "I wasn't there. It was Owen!"

[@kylegreen2768]

Seriously as someone interested in history I would be interested in going through his stuff and doing a proper biography or history

[@TH0MASBR00KS]

Norm !!!!🗣🗣🗣🗣👍👍👍💥💥👍👍

[@brianel-khoury885]

Norman and jim should reunite :'(

[@NelsonRodriguez_]

We love you Cleveland Burn One

[@DJB1PlanetFunksville]

I've heard him mention weasel Dooley a lot but this the first time there a full story

[@maceomaceo11]

Well how 'bout that, I witnessed the first 5 star match.

[@fmdof]

AND NEW SUCH AND SUCH WRESTLING CHAMPION, SO AND SO!

[@cthulhupthagn5771]

I admire how much they try to be gentle to Dave with his "inspiration" but it really sounds like he took someone elses thing and made it gis