Jim Cornette on Working With The Midnight Express In Georgia In 1985

From Episode 346 of the Jim Cornette Experience
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
Send in your question for the Drive-Thru to: [e-mail]
Follow Jim and Brian on Twitter: @TheJimCornette @GreatBrianLast
Join Jim Cornette's College Of Wrestling Knowledge on Patreon to access the archives & more! / cornette
Visit Jim's official site at www.JimCornette.com for merch, live dates, commentaries and more!
You can listen to Brian each week on the 6:05 Superpodcast at 605pod.com.

[@kennydixon5054]

39 minutes feels like 10 when Jim is talking about 80s wrestling. We're so lucky to have him

[@chadk890]

Good old days. Midnight Express was my favorite team back then.

[@willielogan4811]

@@chadk890 its always fun to hear stories older than i am.

[@thomass789]

@@willielogan4811 It was even more fun to have been old enough (barely) to have experienced that time in pro wrestling, as it happened. These stories are great, but watching this stuff as it happened as a kid was incredible, society just had a different level of respect for professional wrestling back then. Everyone knew it was not real fights, but most folks treated it as if it was legit. The business presented itself with more respect, so the fans gave it respect. I hope that makes sense.

[@stanhenderson9928]

Jim's global icon and a national treasure

[@Sp3ecial_K]

@@stanhenderson9928 I saw your comment and could have sworn your name said Stan Hansen. I had to do a double take 🤣🤣

[@robaxl3088]

*Jim Cornette is the official human encyclopedia of wrestling..period.*

[@redwolfe7049]

Brian Last isn't no slouch either.

[@fjccommish]

...of old wrestling.

[@neenabhardwaj8355]

​@@fjccommish well past dictates the present.Therefore jim & Jr are best

[@davidcook3116]

GREAT story about Sawyer. "You hit me like a mark!" "You hit ME like a mark!!!" This was a very interesting, informative segmemt.

[@sullyb23511]

I love hearing how Jim stands up for himself.

[@realadamnixon]

My favorite part of the story is Dennis with his hand in his bag ready to shoot Buzz if necessary.

[@knight2000-NC]

19:05 as a kid in the Charlotte area then we loved the Midnight & rock & roll fued and man did people hate Jim. He constantly had stuff thrown at him like crazy, great heel team/manager.

[@tomwalker389]

Buzz Sawyer was like a hillbilly Rick Steiner with a drug problem.

[@KeithSmerbeck]

Hearing Corny describe something as ‘hella interesting’ is a mood in itself.

[@MichaelSmith-fq6hz]

His wife is from San Francisco, so he almost certainly picked it up from her.

[@pocketspore]

@@MichaelSmith-fq6hz I would've guessed South Park

[@shaolin1derpalm]

The crowd piping during the T.Bolt promo lol.

[@matthillegas3099]

Damn. Corny wore that racquet out lol.

[@pedj3133]

This is when Corney is at his best.

[@Hotpur]

Corny may looked like a nerdy manager with a punchable face, but the minute he yields his tennis racket, he's as dangerous and bad ass as Haku.

[@Gawdzillest]

yuuup

[@TigerBoyRS]

Any real man who respects wrestling and earns its day-to-day out it... Will, sooner or later, have stand on his ground. Waving off crazy guys, badly resolved characters and a stupid fan now and then, that's when the tennis racket enjoyed. Cheers

[@officegossip]

i thought he was scary when i was a kid watching him in the attitude era lmao. to be young.

[@brandonharris1616]

I could listen to jim and Brian all day

[@jaredaviet8297]

Buzz Sawyer sounds like the scariest human being ever in wrestling

[@bigbadbarbiepodcastchannel2682]

If you've never watched Buzz wrestle, he had a whine when he wrestled and yelling, consistent with mental illness. But, I loved him, he was my favorite. Great promo guy and could mix it with anyone.

[@durden2480]

@@bigbadbarbiepodcastchannel2682 I agree he was mentally ill

[@nicholasfarrell8403]

All part of the gimmick

[@AHeroAlmost]

Anyone else here after the death of Beautiful Bobby Eaton ? No one can tell a story like Jim especially from the golden era …

[@craigusselman546]

Such an interesting time In wrestling.

[@madamefeast4824]

I knew that was buzz Sawyer as soon as I saw it! Lol. Great pic. (It probably helps I knew the story)

[@paulknight5300]

Augusta had great live wrestling in the early to mid 80's. It was my pre-teen era. All the greatest wrestlers came through. Life was great!

[@HyperActive7]

When wrestling was really wrestling and each state had some kind of wrestling territory when WWF wasn't in town. The Thunderbolt segment was funny because it reminded me of the Tex Avery cartoon with the grumpy bear who hired a guard to keep things quiet while he slept.. Thunderbolt sounded exactly like the grumpy bear from the Tex Avery cartoon.

[@DarksaberForce]

SHUT UP! QUIET! DON'T KNOCK SO LOUD! I loved that short.

[@HyperActive7]

@@DarksaberForce You deef or somethin' cause I don't want noise round hare, I WANT QUIET!! "SLAM"

[@marc942]

On the Thunderbolt moment: He actually said something much like a preacher/stern dad Jim is right. And I’m sure this played well to his audience.

[@joshhefner8179]

Yeah Midnight was on tv with Jim talking about facing the Sawyers then it went to the feud with Jimmy Valiant and Mrs Atlanta lively and Big Mama at Starrcade.

[@coreypruka5501]

My god! That impression of Dusty!! LOL

[@corymoore1530]

Hell yeah 🤣! I was thinking that gotta be the best Dusty impression ever . Even better than when Dustin did his Common Man impression on Raw , and I think Steve Blackman beat him quick too . He tried the big elbow & Blackman no sold it.

[@patsyparisi3000]

My stepdad use to go watch wrestling in Grand Prairie when he was a kid, he lived in Celina...not too far

[@mercoid]

In 1972, in my first grade class, there was a kid named Mike. He was much smaller than the rest of us kids, was dirty, and wore the same clothes every day. Every two days or so someone’s lunch would go missing from their lunch box. Soon it was discovered that it was Mike stealing the lunches. Mike, in retrospect was clearly malnourished, way too small for his age. We all hated him for this. Many of us teased him and excluded him from our social circle. The teacher punished him. Some weeks later there was a parent teacher conference held in the evening. It was a rare one in that we kids attended with our parents. The parents/guardians who showed up for Mike were two women who weighed at least 325lbs each. I was confused but it became clear to me at that moment that Mike got too little food and these two women got too much. I remembered this all recently, almost 45 years later. And I feel sad.

[@sullyb23511]

A very sad story, but I fail to see the connection to the video.

[@lodi70005]

@@sullyb23511 You took the words out of my mouth. I thought Mercoid was talking about Mike because he Mike would one day become a famous wrestler.

[@JennaLeigh]

What does this have to do with anything in the video, darlin'?

[@bigbadbarbiepodcastchannel2682]

Buzz Sawyer was genuinely a psychopath. When wrestling guys say you're crazy, you probably are. But he was a great promo guy and tactical wrestler, but could brawl with the greatest.

[@samuraijack0876]

Isn't Buzz Sawyer the same guy who screwed the Undertaker out of $2000 when he promised to train him to become a wrestler?. I saw this on the Undertaker's last ride doc.

[@bigbadbarbiepodcastchannel2682]

@@samuraijack0876 I believe you are correct, kinda proves he IS insane, of course 'taker was a pup in those days.

[@ryanjackson3428]

"255. Buzz Sawyer got into a fight outside a club. The other guy pulls out a gun and sticks it in Buzz's mouth saying hes going to blow his head off. Buzz just stands their laughing with the loaded gun in his mouth and the other guy freaks out and leaves."

[@josheisert8380]

I use to love buzz Sawyer as a kid but didn't know he was a prick in real life. It doesn't take away the fact I liked his character which may have been his real persona. I can still see him on all fours yelling mad dog mad dog

[@scottroberts7103]

Buzz Sawyer vs Tommy Rich - Last Battle of Atlanta was the blueprint for Hell In A Cell.

[@AJH3518]

I think every video he talks about eating a whole pizza

[@hotrodriguez549]

Travis Heckel= Genius

[@marsaillecanty765]

looks like Hannibal 🤣

[@irockandiadarola3730]

I liked the veiled shot at Preparation H at the very end

[@Dakatari]

Having video to go along with Jim's description of the Midnight Express debut would be priceless

[@monoaguilar6867]

I wonder how many other people had the balls to shoot on Buzz.

[@coreysmorgan8488]

I remember that angle with Thunderbolt and Ole when Ole turned on Bolt. I was 12 yrs old and i realized at that young age that his ringwork was the absolute shits. He sucked, but he was old

[@WTS1377]

The arena he's thinking of is Henderson's arena. Watched wrestling there once or twice.

[@bradpaton3927]

Thunderbolt "If-You-MOVE...." Patterson

[@edwardb3970]

Is WWE Network(Peacock TV) ever going to show Georgia Championship Wrestling(at least if it's watchable)?

[@MrChristopherHaas]

If anyone can reference Cornette talking about managing a tag team in GCW with The Angel and some green wrestler after McMahon gave show back id appreciate it.

[@wildchild423]

I remember the Omni in Atlanta. They had all kinds of events there for a while before they shut it down. The closest I ever got to the Omni was practically the front door the reason why I didn't go in I was with a group at the time and was in a van.

[@lodi70005]

You didn’t go into the Omni because you were in a van? We’re you a kidnapped kid?

[@macoirc376]

Was a damn shame it was torn down.

[@denniscook512]

I remember seeing the Thunderbolt tv spot the Jim is referring to, it was painful to watch. Even for mark back then I remember thinking WTH did he say or in this case not say

[@kingkold]

For some reason, I like hearing jim talk smack about buzz sawyer

[@romewilliams3526]

He went to my high school, Pez that is.

[@MrChristopherHaas]

If anyone can reference Cornette talking about managing tag team on GCW with The Angel in it along with some green guy after McMahon gave show back id appreciate it.

[@codyapley221]

Keep up the good work Jim! it’s kind of sad I rather listen to you talk about wrestling stories than watch shit wrestling on tv today!

[@Oldguitar57]

Hey Corny, some of us Ohio kids were damned glad to see you in Wheeling!

[@joshhefner8179]

Ole turned on Thunderbolt and Arn was his partner next.

[@jamesselig8461]

Love hearing these stories of wrestling,

[@blacksabbath1022]

Like how Corny beat his racket into a Mario 2 enemy.

[@richardpreston7333]

Jim is one of the best oral historians *period*

[@superdreamweaver11]

Wooooo grand prairie tx! Lol

[@hitomitanaka105]

Corny managed the midnight express? He’s never mentioned it before.

[@walterpetersen776]

He is always mentioning it

[@Shaner373]

@@walterpetersen776 ever hear of sarcasm?

[@gregp103]

@@Shaner373 ever hear of deadpan sarcasm?

[@Shaner373]

@@gregp103 yup

[@set1237]

25:03 what kind of promo is this?

[@mangrove]

This is the first thumbnail where I had to stop the video to laugh at for a good 5 minutes.

[@akumawani]

nope. luv ya corney this time you got it wrong- back then blacks knew t-bolt patterson couldnt work for sh*t. but his promos alone were worth the price of admission- if for no other reason than the comedic value. 22:11 "if you move...!" this stuff is pure gold...

[@tylerflemming7059]

Im waiting for cornette to say "It exposed the Business"

[@GregHuffman1987]

hit me like a mark no hit me like a mark

[@noahhaonsmith6963]

Undertaker didn't like Buzz Sawyer. Or at least that is what Paul Bearer said.

[@earlowens9085]

Love to hear cornys in put on AEW or current wwe but when he opens up the encyclopedia it’s gold THANK YOU JIM CORNETT

[@stephenrogers4537]

I think they should put Jim in the Guinness book of World Records he can tell a story using ONLY CUS words Excelsior🤴💯

[@sladewilder]

3:36 did Corny just say "hella interesting"? hm.

[@jamaalmoses8821]

"IF YOU MOVE!"

[@Lemi-killmister]

WTCG CHANNEL 17 THE SUPERSTATION

[@MrChristopherHaas]

Mid south was the highest rated cable tv show for 4 months? And I MISSED IT here in Wisconsin? DAMN. Hopefully it’s all on you tube,anyone that than guide me in would be appreciated

[@MaxZorin2099]

Going by the thumbnail, I thought this video was going to be about Hannibal!

[@metalmutherfucker1016]

Not Festus

[@MrChristopherHaas]

the episodes of GCW with cornette, memphis, etc. shows Cornette managing The Angel and some jobber. no midnight xpress

[@farscape1714]

If you listen to Thunderbolt you can hear how Dusty stoled his talking gimmick. It almost sounds like Dusty talking cause Thunderbolt did it first.

[@michaelallanrubin2376]

Thunderbolt was a good promo

[@darnelldarden9429]

Corney wrestling stories. I love em. Wish he was my grandpop

[@Ted_Bell]

If you move!

[@aewreddit2220]

Tbs didn't exist in the 1970s

[@davidmolina8759]

Thunderbolt sounds uncannily like Dusty.

[@Rjensen2]

That's where Dusty stole most of his schtick from.

[@GerardoALLO]

God damn this man tells a good story. Lol

[@garywilbourn1731]

Midnight rule Bobby one great guy one hellva wrestler

[@dennishenderson4113]

Still my favorite wrestling talk show

[@russblack443]

It wasn't Ole and Gene it was ole and Arn. Arn beat the crap out of thunderbolt and it looked like Ole was coming in for the save and then he jumped thunderbolt and held him down for Arn to jump off the top and brake his legs. Manny Fernandez came in for the save and sacrificed himself and protected tbolt with his body. This help Arn get going with his program with Manny and turned Ole and established the new Minnesota wrecking Crew. Ole cut a promo and called thunderbolt lazy and said he just was lying about and taking a beating.

[@cwalser544]

Jim wasn't a great wrestling athlete, but he has a tennis racket.

[@kanekanekaneable]

8.50 . Love you jim

[@JaxFPrime81]

Modern wrestling is so fucking dead that Jim AND Vince Russo will have no choice but to bury the hatchet right next to wrestling's grave.

[@Rfflllss]

Can you upload a separate video of corny’s political rants? What he called jared kusher blew my mind but i wouldn’t dare type it in the youtube comments! Small tease though: felcher was involved lmao

[@gurtblack3471]

Buzz Sawyer looks like Braun Strowman on the artwork. JC should get the racket out of retirement for Strowman too

[@CatsClaw44]

I love Dusty but man he ripped off Thunderbolt Patterson's cadence.

[@ddwchamp]

Corny is the Grand Historian of Pro Wrestling. We are lucky to have him because he provides accurate info.

[@Xaintrix]

What an incredible story. If I could get an omnibus if these awesome hilarious moments I would be a happy person. Or at least an entertained one.

[@joshuac5537]

People still say “hella” ?

[@adriancarlos9155]

Pistol Pez Whatley

[@aretnap3653]

Who KnockedOut Sloth From Goonies?

[@nicholasfarrell8403]

Dick Slater

[@nkotbfreak2983]

Thats the stuff i care about not all those AEW/NXT reviews

[@Gawdzillest]

12:38

[@Ken9284]

The iggy

[@fallenchao]

Hello Jim Cornette.

[@kylesteward4535]

Hi 🌽!

[@gqn2]

Hi

[@garymartling6055]

Top 10 foreign objects used by heel managers?

[@traceywoodward1817]

Chain

[@traceywoodward1817]

Fire

[@garymartling6055]

Nathaniel Baxter nice, people have a short memory on ether

[@garymartling6055]

Not trying to mark out to myself too hard here but it took me 2 minutes to come up with a more unique list idea than whatculture’s come up with in the last 2 years

[@piperar2014]

Fuji's cane Jimmy Hart's megaphone Jim's racket Paul E's brick phone

[@dus1009]

whoever this person is who is doing this show with Cornette is awful

[@lanceparker4796]

Dennis Condrey had that blammer for Buzz Sawyer.

[@Strokes1983]

Love jim but he often contradicts himself. He said buzz sawyer couldn't take it when it was time for him to let them get over but when the stieners etc came along and it was time for them to do jobs and move along he took his ball and went home

[@dennisodle1923]

If Jim cornette was given a tv time slot and just talked about the good ol days of wrestling it would be must watched tv!!

[@aewreddit2220]

Lmao at Cornette claiming Cornette gave Vince the million he didn't have to do a wm which change everything. A year later he will claim that anoki gave Vince the million to mania. So basically neither is true and Cornette his still so butthurt Vince won he has to try and convince a few hundred young fans that Vince lucked out and southern wrestling >

[@lodi70005]

Oh look, a guy with AEW in his name, on Cornette’s KZbin channel talking about being “but hurt”. You are reaching way too hard,in an attempt to bash Cornette. Jim is simply relaying the stories/rumors regarding the Wrestlemania finances. Jim wasn’t in a position to know these details. Cornette also said that if Wrestlemania would have failed, it wouldn’t have knocked the WWF out of business,which is contrary to public opinion. Also, why would Cornette be biased towards WCW? He left that company on bad terms as WCW mismanagement caused the Midnight Express to break up. Take your nonsense on over to the Japanese schoolgirl fetish websites. That way, you might get Kenny Omega’s attention. Maybe, Kenny will give you a “thumbs up”the ass.

[@Rjensen2]

The "million", wasn't a million. It was $750k, and Vince sold the timeslot on March 30th, so it definitely did not fund Wrestle Mania. And anyway, it wasn't Vince who did the deal, it was Linda.

[@Rjensen2]

​@@lodi70005 If WM failed, it absolutely would not have put Vince out of business.

[@lodi70005]

@@Rjensen2 I’d love to debate this, but I’m not sure about what I originally said. I can’t see my comment, only your reply. That’s weird.

[@Rjensen2]

@@lodi70005 Neither can I. Anyway, there's not much to debate.

[@aewreddit2220]

Cornette does some many Goofy little things to try and make is stories sound more believable like correct minor things or pantomime thinking long and hard about an inconsequential name to the story. I fell for it for a while but I'm so embarrassed now I know how much bullshit he chats

[@funclips2981]

Another Boring video seems like Cornette has lost his touch

[@joshuam190]

All of this shit is interesting if you love professional wrestling 🤓

[@funclips2981]

@P McGill yes, I do agree with you if Cornette wouldn't have done all those shoot interviews then he would have had a lot of material but it's also the matches that he picks for watch alongs are boring except for Austin vs hart and that got the most views on KZbin. I gave him a suggestion to do watch alongs of some popular matches of WWE from 1997-2015 and he blocked me on Twitter for that.

[@Halbared]

Joshua M spot on!

[@aretnap3653]

I've UnSubscribed From TheChannel...Due to All TheModernWrestlingCrap Corny Allegedly Hates, But Doesn't Stop Talking About!

[@chadk890]

@@joshuam190 Exactly